Friday, January 1, 2021

Isaiah 33 - Victory in Jesus

Isaiah chapter 33 continues the contrast of the man's wickedness and God's self-existent power and righteousness.

The opening reveals the doom of those who rebel against God and abuse people for selfish gain. Isaiah 33:1 (HCSB) "Woe, you destroyer never destroyed, you traitor never betrayed! When you have finished destroying, you will be destroyed. When you have finished betraying, they will betray you. "

Note: those powerful men who appeared to have a firm grip on their destiny, destroyers never destroyed - such Babylon under Nebuchadnezzar - will be destroyed when, according to YHWH's plan, will themselves be destroyed. Those whose lives are marked by betraying others will be betrayed by them.  This is God's plan.

Isaiah 33:2 (HCSB) LORD, be gracious to us! We wait for You. Be our strength every morning and our salvation in time of trouble.

The contrast with those who belong to YHWH wait for Him; these cry out to Him for grace, for strength, and for salvation - for refuge from destroyers.

Isaiah 33:3-4 (HCSB) The peoples flee at the thunderous noise; the nations scatter when You rise in Your majesty. Your spoil will be gathered as locusts are gathered; people will swarm over it like an infestation of locusts.

When God makes Himself known to the world, as when the Lord Jesus returns, people who know Him not will flee, seeking safety on earth. Nations that rage against Him will be scattered like dust in the wind when the majesty of God is revealed. The spoils of His war will be picked over like bugs swarming a garbage heap.

Isaiah 33:5 (HCSB) The LORD is exalted, for He dwells on high; He has filled Zion with justice and righteousness.

In all of this, YHWH is exalted, reigning from on high, having filled Mt Zion with justice and righteousness - the two characteristics of the saints ruling with Him and His rule over all things, as we read in the beginning of chapter 32.

Isaiah 33:6 (HCSB) There will be times of security for you— a storehouse of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge. The fear of the LORD is Zion’s treasure.

Those who are known by YHWH are secure - the storehouse of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge of Him! Do you see, dear saints - we are heirs of all that the Father has given His Son because we are united to Him by grace working through faith! Nothing this weary world has can satisfy the soul of the one who has been brought to life by the Spirit of the living God.

Verses 7 - 9 reveal the dismal state of those rebel against their Creator. Bitter weeping, cities broken down, promises broken, land become worthless, and human life without meaning.

Isaiah 33:10-13 (HCSB) “Now I will rise up,” says the LORD. “Now I will lift Myself up. Now I will be exalted. You will conceive chaff; you will give birth to stubble. Your breath is fire that will consume you. The peoples will be burned to ashes, like thorns cut down and burned in a fire. You who are far off, hear what I have done; you who are near, know My strength.”

When YHWH rises up, He will be exalted. Chaff consumed, leaving stubble. His voice is a fire that will destroy the destroyers, burning them to ashes. Those who are far off - a phrase used by Paul and Luke to denote Gentiles - will hear of His mighty deeds and those are near will know His strength. Children - do you hear Him, do you see Him? He is mighty to save and will have mercy on all He calls to Himself.

Isaiah 33:14-16 (HCSB) The sinners in Zion are afraid; trembling seizes the ungodly: “Who among us can dwell with a consuming fire? Who among us can dwell with ever-burning flames?” The one who lives righteously and speaks rightly, who refuses gain from extortion, whose hand never takes a bribe, who stops his ears from listening to murderous plots and shuts his eyes to avoid endorsing evil—he will dwell on the heights; his refuge will be the rocky fortresses, his food provided, his water assured.

Pretenders in the midst of the saints will greatly fear Him; they will tremble in terror as they recognize the nature of His judgment that is being poured out. Those who live in righteousness will dwell on high with his God, Who will be his strong tower of refuge - providing food and water.

Isaiah 33:17-20 (HCSB) Your eyes will see the King in His beauty; you will see a vast land. Your mind will meditate on the past terror: “Where is the accountant? Where is the tribute collector? Where is the one who spied out our defenses?” You will no longer see the barbarians, a people whose speech is difficult to comprehend— who stammer in a language that is not understood. Look at Zion, the city of our festival times. Your eyes will see Jerusalem, a peaceful pasture, a tent that does not wander; its tent pegs will not be pulled up nor will any of its cords be loosened.

When His people see Him, in His glory and beauty unsurpassed by anything, they will how vast His dwelling is. They will remember the terror that filled their life on this earth, where all those who were to protect them took advantage of them instead. In contrast, the New Jerusalem will be a peaceful pasture with unmovable boundaries, stable in all circumstances.

Isaiah 33:21-22 (HCSB) For the majestic One, our LORD, will be there, a place of rivers and broad streams where ships that are rowed will not go, and majestic vessels will not pass. For the LORD is our Judge, the LORD is our lawgiver, the LORD is our King. He will save us.

All these things mentioned above are so because YHWH the majestic One dwells there with His own, where rivers need not carry the ships of man - He provides food and water for His own (verse 16). For YHWH is our lawgiver, Judge, King, and Savior! No matter how bad 2020 was, no matter how good you think 2021 might be, nothing can compare with the security and provision that Creator God provides for His own.

Isaiah 33:23-24 (HCSB) Your ropes are slack; they cannot hold the base of the mast or spread out the flag. Then abundant spoil will be divided, the lame will plunder it, and none there will say, “I am sick.” The people who dwell there will be forgiven their iniquity.

Those who stand on their own merit will find their symbols of substance failing, as their ships fall limp and useless. Its cargo will be taken from her, divided among the weak - leaving gleanings for those who are refuse in the eyes of the world's powerful. These are provided for by God, just as He ordained the corners of Israel's fields to be left for the poor. All who are called and seek Him will dwell with Him in forgiveness.

To be forgiven by your lawgiver and Judge is a precious thing. This is the Lord's doing and it is marvelous in our eyes! 

Thursday, December 31, 2020

Isaiah 32 - The Kingdom revealed

Chapter 32 is mostly good news, as the prophet hails the kingdom that will never end. But there is the warning against drifting away, with the wrath that awaits those who do not trust in YHWH.

Isaiah 32:1-2 (HCSB) Indeed, a king will reign righteously, and rulers will rule justly. Each will be like a shelter from the wind, a refuge from the rain, like streams of water in a dry land and the shade of a massive rock in an arid land.

These two verses announce the structure of God's kingdom: a righteous king and just rulers. Saints rule with Christ now (2 Tim 2:12; Rev 20:4 - 6) and Jesus is the righteous King (1 Cor 15:20-28; Eph 1:20-22). Such rule is not a terror to men, but serve as a shelter and refuge from wickedness, providing refreshment and shade in dessert climes.

Isaiah 32:3-5 (HCSB) Then the eyes of those who see will not be closed, and the ears of those who hear will listen. The reckless mind will gain knowledge, and the stammering tongue will speak clearly and fluently. A fool will no longer be called a noble, nor a scoundrel said to be important.

When the kingdom of God is consummated, all will see clearly, understand what they hear, and speak truth and they grow in grace and knowledge. No longer will the culture elevate fools and scoundrels. Compare verse 3 with the commissioning of the prophet in chapter 6: "Go! Say to these people: Keep listening, but do not understand; keep looking, but do not perceive. Dull the minds of these people; deafen their ears and blind their eyes; otherwise they might see with their eyes and hear with their ears, understand with their minds, turn back, and be healed." Quite the contrast! All His chosen ones will see and perceive, will hear and understand; and be healed.

Verses 6 & 7 describe the fools, which are exalted by worldly cultures. They speak foolishness, plot wickedness: godless people who abuse the poor and seek to destroy everything. Isaiah 32:8 (HCSB) "But a noble person plans noble things; he stands up for noble causes." Israel's history is pock-marked by her abuse of widows and orphans, cheating people with false scales, and seeking the fleeting glory of a temporal kingdom. The noble person seeks to honor God by taking care of the poor and weak, dealing honestly with people, and trusting God to deal with wickedness.

Verses 9 - 14 are the warnings of what will happen to those who mindlessly (those without understanding) depend on their bigger barns. The prophet addresses this warning to the women, perhaps as a contrast to the woman described in Proverbs 31. Isaiah 32:9 (HCSB) "Stand up, you complacent women; listen to me. Pay attention to what I say, you overconfident daughters." Complacent and overconfident - characteristics of those who pay no heed to the warnings of the age-to-come. This passage reveals how their land will fail and be full of thorns, the palace deserted and the city forsaken; and this rebuke: Isaiah 32:11 (HCSB) "Shudder, you complacent ones; tremble, you overconfident ones! Strip yourselves bare and put sackcloth around your waists." People ought to tremble at the thought of what is to come, at how fragile their lives are. Time is running out.

The cities will continue to fall, the vineyards become barren, "until the Spirit from heaven is poured out on us. Then the desert will become an orchard, and the orchard will seem like a forest. Then justice will inhabit the wilderness, and righteousness will dwell in the orchard. The result of righteousness will be peace; the effect of righteousness will be quiet confidence forever. Then my people will dwell in a peaceful place, in safe and secure dwellings. (Isaiah 32:15-18)

On the new earth, the Spirit will rule in every heart, the provision of YHWH will be untarnished by sin, and justice and righteousness (recall the righteous king and just rulers from the opening of this chapter?) will be the rule, providing peaceful, safe dwellings. Again quite the contrast to Israel's condition - and ours! Does your soul ache to have this peace and safety? It will be ours if we are His.

This chapter comes to an end with a short contrast to drive the message home. Contrary to those who trust in YHWH, those who care not for His rule will be in despair. Isaiah 32:19 (HCSB) "But hail will level the forest, and the city will sink into the depths." Hail symbolizes the reign of God over weather, as He knocks the wind out of the prideful.

Isaiah 32:20 (HCSB) "Those who sow seed are happy beside abundant waters; they let ox and donkey range freely." But those who are content with food and shelter, not seeking the vainglory of earthly wealth, will be satisfied with land that provides produce and provision for the animals. I hear the Lord's counsel as He taught on the mount:

Matthew 6:25-34 (HCSB) “This is why I tell you: Don’t worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Isn’t life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the sky: They don’t sow or reap or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you worth more than they? Can any of you add a single cubit to his height by worrying? And why do you worry about clothes? Learn how the wildflowers of the field grow: they don’t labor or spin thread. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was adorned like one of these! If that’s how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and thrown into the furnace tomorrow, won’t He do much more for you—you of little faith? So don’t worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ For the idolaters eagerly seek all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you. Therefore don’t worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.  

Israel's history provided the backdrop to Jesus' words, as He had provided food and clothing during their 40 years of wandering. His counsel stands in our day, as we see the wealth of this world taken away from the workers and stored up by the "landowners." This is YHWH's reminder that with food and clothing, we are to be content, for our God has gone to prepare a place for us and will return to take us to be with Him forever. So while we live here as pilgrims, let us sojourn with our eyes fixed on Him. He is our rock and strong tower. And He gives peace to His own - peace the world cannot comprehend. What cause do we have to worry?

Tuesday, December 29, 2020

Isaiah 31 - Repent and trust in YHWH

The 31st chapter of Isaiah appears to be a short rehash of chapter 30 - an oracle against Egypt and against ethnic Israel for trusting in Egypt.

Isaiah 31:1 (HCSB) Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help and who depend on horses! They trust in the abundance of chariots and in the large number of horsemen. They do not look to the Holy One of Israel and they do not seek the LORD’s help.

I've noted several times in this walk through Isaiah that Israel once declared that OTHERS might boast in horses and chariots, but THEY would boast in the name of their God. Oh how often they forgot this! Fearful of the Assyrians, Israel sought help from Egypt - wealthy in horses and chariots; the machinery of war! By doing so, they turned their back on YHWH - the One who brought them out of Egypt with a strong arm. He freed them from Egypt so long ago - now they seek refuge from the Pharaoh of that land.

Isaiah 31:2-3 (HCSB) But He also is wise and brings disaster. He does not go back on what He says; He will rise up against the house of wicked men and against the allies of evildoers. Egyptians are men, not God; their horses are flesh, not spirit. When the LORD raises His hand to strike, the helper will stumble and the one who is helped will fall; both will perish together.

The Holy One of Israel is the only wise god, the only true God; the only One who does not need a "plan B." Evil doers will not last long, though it may seem they do. Egypt's help is merely flesh (which profits nothing, Jesus observed, in John 6) and they will be cast down and perish with YHWH raises His hand to strike them. We have seen this raised hand of God several times as well - He saves with His strong outstretched arm and He destroys His enemies with His strong outstretched arm.

Isaiah 31:4-5 (HCSB) For this is what the LORD said to me: As a lion or young lion growls over its prey when a band of shepherds is called out against it, and is not terrified by their shouting or subdued by their noise, so the LORD of Hosts will come down to fight on Mount Zion and on its hill. Like hovering birds, so the LORD of Hosts will protect Jerusalem— by protecting it, He will rescue it, by sparing it, He will deliver it.

Isaiah pronounces what God has told him, and it's about how almighty and trustworthy He is! Those who reside on Mt Zion will be under His protection, rescued and delivered from their own evil sins. No fear of Assyria or any other army or beast because the battle belongs to YHWH and He will vanquish all His enemies - just as He rescues and preserves all His sheep.

Isaiah 31:6-9 (HCSB) Return to the One the Israelites have greatly rebelled against. For on that day, every one of you will reject the silver and gold idols that your own hands have sinfully made. Then Assyria will fall, but not by human sword; a sword will devour him, but not one made by man. He will flee from the sword; his young men will be put to forced labor. His rock will pass away because of fear, and his officers will be afraid because of the signal flag. This is the LORDs declarationwhose fire is in Zion and whose furnace is in Jerusalem.

Those who repent and turn to God will reject the idols once held dear. Recall this from chapter 30: Isaiah 30:21-22 (HCSB) "whenever you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear this command behind you: “This is the way. Walk in it.” Then you will defile your silver-plated idols and your gold-plated images. You will throw them away like menstrual cloths, and call them filth." God grants repentance to His people; but He doesn't repent for us. If repentance is not part of your life, cry out to God for this!

Assyria will not be put down by men - Egyptian or any other. A sword not from a human will devour them one by one. The sword of Truth, wielded by the victorious Christ will do this. Those who flee will be imprisoned, their source of pride - their rock - will pass away, and no one will look to the battle flag of Assyria any longer. YHWH has decreed this - His fire in on Mt Zion, burning from the furnace in Jerusalem. Righteousness from God wherein He sits as He rules, Jerusalem will be that city on Mt Zion!

Again and again we see the same cycle - trust in men and strongholds of this world are attractive to us, we are but frail men and women. But the only refuge the provide safety from the storm of God's wrath is to have the righteousness of Christ imputed to your account!

Monday, December 28, 2020

Isaiah 30 - This is the Way, Walk in it.

Isaiah 30 is a lengthy rebuke of Israel's reliance on the strength of man, the doom of those who present themselves as worthy of such trust, and a reminder of the bliss that awaits those reconciled to God.

Isaiah 30:1-2 (HCSB) "Woe to the rebellious children! This is the LORDs declaration. They carry out a plan, but not Mine; they make an alliance, but against My will, piling sin on top of sin. They set out to go down to Egypt without asking My advice, in order to seek shelter under Pharaoh’s protection and take refuge in Egypt’s shadow."

Note the judgment of God: His people, ethnic Israel, proved themselves to be rebels by pursuing a plan of their own. Not being merely ignorant of YHWH's ways but being deliberately against what they know of His ways. They pile up sin upon sin by seeking refuge in the strength of man! These are the same people who declared that some may trust in chariots but THEY would trust in the name of their God. And here they are. Saints - how is it with your soul? Are you THIS DAY trusting in Him or have you slouched into a false security of seeking refuge in wealth, comfort, political success, or those who preach "peace, peace!" where there is none?

Note how it will end for ethnic Israel: Isaiah 30:3 (HCSB) "But Pharaoh’s protection will become your shame, and refuge in Egypt’s shadow your disgrace." This was written for our benefit - we can expect no better result if we have misplaced trust.

Verses 4 - 8 bring us more details of the consequences of this misplaced trust, describing the land as "in distress" and Egypt's help as "completely worthless." Our prophet is given instructions:

Isaiah 30:8-9 (HCSB) "Go now, write it on a tablet in their presence and inscribe it on a scroll; it will be for the future, forever and ever. They are a rebellious people, deceptive children, children who do not want to obey the LORD’s instruction."

We will read later of another message that is to be written on a tablet so all can read it - bringing the good news of the gospel. This message, written on a tablet, is bad news - God's judgment comes upon those who rebel against God and do not obey YHWH's instructions.

Isaiah 30:10-11 (HCSB) "They say to the seers, “Do not see,” and to the prophets, “Do not prophesy the truth to us. Tell us flattering things. Prophesy illusions. Get out of the way! Leave the pathway. Rid us of the Holy One of Israel.”"

This reminded me of the encounter between the kings of the two kingdoms in 1 Kings 22. Ahab, king of Israel (northern kingdom) wanted a military alliance with Jehoshaphat, king of Judah (southern kingdom). Jehoshaphat is agreeable, but wants Ahab to get confirmation from God (verse 7). 1 Kings 22:8 (HCSB)  "The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “There is still one man who can ask Yahweh, but I hate him because he never prophesies good about me, but only disaster. He is Micaiah son of Imlah.”" All the other "prophets" had told Ahab he would succeed in this campaign. And this was the result: 1 Kings 22:16-18 (HCSB) But the king said to him, “How many times must I make you swear not to tell me anything but the truth in the name of Yahweh?” So Micaiah said: I saw all Israel scattered on the hills like sheep without a shepherd. And the LORD said, “They have no master; let everyone return home in peace.” So the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Didn’t I tell you he never prophesies good about me, but only disaster?”

The Jews had developed their own brand of the prosperity gospel - thinking God only wanted them to prosper as a nation, conquering all the pagan nations; thinking poverty and illness was a sure sign of sin. We see this highly developed as early as Job's day. It didn't line up with God's plan then and it doesn't now.

Isaiah 30:12-14 (HCSB) Therefore the Holy One of Israel says: “Because you have rejected this message and have trusted in oppression and deceit, and have depended on them, this iniquity of yours will be like a spreading breach, a bulge in a high wall whose collapse will come in an instant—suddenly! Its collapse will be like the shattering of a potter’s jar, crushed to pieces, so that not even a fragment of pottery will be found among its shattered remains— no fragment large enough to take fire from a hearth or scoop water from a cistern.”

We man trusts in man, he has trusted in oppression and deceit; and this will ALWAYS bring judgment and dismay. The description of this judgment is in detail that would imprint itself in the minds of the Hebrews - wall breached and collapsing, reduced to small pieces like a shattered ceramic pot that are good for nothing. If we trust in man for satisfaction in this life or protection from His wrath, we will be dismayed.

Isaiah 30:15-17 (HCSB) For the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, has said: “You will be delivered by returning and resting; your strength will lie in quiet confidence. But you are not willing.” You say, “No! We will escape on horses”— therefore you will escape!— and, “We will ride on fast horses”— but those who pursue you will be faster. One thousand will flee at the threat of one, at the threat of five you will flee, until you alone remain like a solitary pole on a mountaintop or a banner on a hill.

Here God lays out His plan - return to Him and rest! But they were not willing - natural man is ALWAYS unwilling, trusting in horses and barns. Any excuse to run away from God will do - but all excuses will end badly. But YHWH is unchanging and patient with His chosen ones, no matter how circumstances look to us.

Isaiah 30:18-22 (HCSB) Therefore the LORD is waiting to show you mercy, and is rising up to show you compassion, for the LORD is a just God. All who wait patiently for Him are happy. For you people will live on Zion in Jerusalem and will never cry again. He will show favor to you at the sound of your cry; when He hears, He will answer you. The Lord will give you meager bread and water during oppression, but your Teacher will not hide Himself any longer. Your eyes will see your Teacher, and whenever you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear this command behind you: “This is the way. Walk in it.” Then you will defile your silver-plated idols and your gold-plated images. You will throw them away like menstrual cloths, and call them filth.

YHWH is just and He will satisfy those who hunger for Him; they will live with Him on Mt. Zion where there will be no more tears - sound familiar? He will ensure we have enough to live on while we are our earthly pilgrimage, and He will be with us - gave His Spirit to comfort and guide us - during this time. He will instruct us in His way: “This is the way. Walk in it.” A better way than man (even Mandalorian!) can show us. And there will be evidence of this change in heart: we will be cast away false idols - consider them filthy rags (another familiar phrase). Saints: do you cling to idols? Think they yet have value? Consider your ways and make sure you are not mistaken about whose way you follow.

Verses  23 - 26 continue with the description of the care YHWH has for His people, Isaiah 30:26 (HCSB)  "The moonlight will be as bright as the sunlight, and the sunlight will be seven times brighter—like the light of seven days—on the day that the LORD bandages His people’s injuries and heals the wounds He inflicted." This ought to draw our minds to John's Apocalypse: Revelation 22:5 (HCSB) "Night will no longer exist, and people will not need lamplight or sunlight, because the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign forever and ever." Oh the glory and the true AWE of being in Christ and knowing Him as He knows us! No more tears, no more sin, no darkness!

The balance of this chapter is an oracle against Assyria, the main pain for national Israel. God's judgment on His enemies ought to comfort us just as it did national Israel - for it demonstrates His justice. Our sins weren't "winked at" - Jesus suffered the Father's wrath for our sin. This is part of the covenant God made with Noah and all creation: Genesis 9:6 (HCSB) "Whoever sheds man’s blood, his blood will be shed by man, for God made man in His image." This is why the Son of God put on man-flesh. To know we are reconciled to God, our sin-debt PAID, ought to cause us to rejoice with unspeakable joy.

So He tells Israel to, "Look, Yahweh comes from far away, His anger burning and heavy with smoke. His lips are full of fury, and His tongue is like a consuming fire." (Isaiah 30:27) This wrath is against Assyria for their vengeance against ethnic Israel. Isaiah 30:28 (HCSB) "His breath is like an overflowing torrent that rises to the neck. He comes to sift the nations in a sieve of destruction and to put a bridle on the jaws of the peoples to lead them astray." Note that God not only sifts the nations to destroy them, He leads His enemies astray - into that destruction.

Isaiah 30:29 (HCSB) "Your singing will be like that on the night of a holy festival, and your heart will rejoice like one who walks to the music of a flute, going up to the mountain of the LORD, to the Rock of Israel." In the midst of the doom falling on Assyria, we see this snippet of grace poured out His people. Does your heart rejoice in the knowledge that you are seated with Christ in the heavenlies, destined to be with Him on the New Earth (Mt Zion!) for eternity? Pray for the Spirit of God to stir you - and me! - up to  be honestly excited and joyful at being His possession.

Verse 30 shows God's arm raised to strike, and He will make known the splendor of His voice. Isaiah 30:31 (HCSB) "Assyria will be shattered by the voice of the LORD. He will strike with a rod." Isaiah 30:33b (HCSB) "The breath of the LORD, like a torrent of brimstone, kindles it." No matter how strong man considers himself, the breath of YHWH will shatter him. There is NO refuge from this judgment apart from union with Christ. If you are His, rejoice!