Mindful of our Rock

Isaiah 17:10-11 
Because you have forgotten the God of your salvation, And have not been mindful of the Rock of your stronghold, Therefore you will plant pleasant plants And set out foreign seedlings; 11 In the day you will make your plant to grow, And in the morning you will make your seed to flourish; But the harvest will be a heap of ruins In the day of grief and desperate sorrow.

... Isaiah 17:7.  In that day a man will look to his Maker, And his eyes will have respect for the Holy One of Israel.

When we forget God, looking to prosper ourselves, the bountiful crop we cultivate often ends in ruin and sadness.  But when we instead look to our Maker in the face of Jesus Christ, when we revere, fear, and honor Him - then we prosper in our souls towards eternity.  Lay up treasures in heaven. 

Mercy, Truth, Justice, and Righteousness

Isaiah 16:5  
In mercy the throne will be established; And One will sit on it in truth, in the tabernacle of David, Judging and seeking justice and hastening righteousness.”

Just as an earthly king would be given by God, so in a larger sense the King, the Messiah/Christ would be given to us.  He reigns in truth.  He is just.  He is righteous and brings righteousness quickly.  So Jesus the Christ is the truth since He is God's word, the only way of righteousness, and so life is only found in His suffering, death for our just punishment for our sin, and resurrection for a sure hope of never ending life with Him. 

The Lord's Sovereign Purpose

Isaiah 14:26-27 
This is the purpose that is purposed against the whole earth, And this is the hand that is stretched out over all the nations.  27 For the Lord of hosts has purposed, And who will annul it?  His hand is stretched out, And who will turn it back?”

This addressed Assyria's judgment, but shows God's working through all history - He will do according to His purpose, and nobody can stop what God says He will do.  Men have plans and ambitions, but can be stopped or undone.  Not so with God's working from the beginning when man fell until the resurrection, judgment, and renewing of all things.  From and to all time, God's purpose in Christ shall certainly stand.  We choose either to believe and follow, or... 

Guard the Entrusted Word

1 Timothy 6:20-21  
O Timothy! Guard what was committed to your trust, avoiding the profane and idle babblings and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge — by professing it some have strayed concerning the faith.  Grace be with you. Amen.

Empty discussions and fruitless theories that attempt to reveal new lost gospels and ideas are only gnostic attempts to display man's pride of self-knowledge.  It is the same lie that brought sin to all men in Eden when our original parents were commanded to not eat of this fruit of self-knowing pride, to desire to know more than God already told us.  Why would we even try to know in our own ability that is infinitely less than our Maker's?  "Has God really said..." echoes down the corridors of time ever since, and only Jesus the Word made man can remake us.  But we still must listen and learn from HIS knowledge found in the Bible, testing all else to ensure it IS what God said as Acts 17:11 shows. 

Living Word Became a Living Man

1 John 1:1-4 
1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life — 2 the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us — 3 that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. 4 And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.

John and the other disciples told us plainly about the Word (Jn.1:1, 14) made flesh whom they saw with their own eyes and touched as a real man.  He is not, as the Gnostics claimed, merely a spirit come on a man, but both Son of God and Son of man - God and man both.  Here John tells us that Jesus is God's Son shown to us so we can have life, and that forever with God in Him.  So all who meet Him now share in that life revealed to us by His written word and His Spirit giving us understanding in our heart, soul, and mind.  This reality is what gives true joy beyond mere fleeting happiness. 

The Proud one Fell as Lightning

Isaiah 14:12-16 
12 “How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning!  How you are cut down to the ground, You who weakened the nations!  13 For you have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation On the farthest sides of the north; 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.'  15 Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, To the lowest depths of the Pit.  16 “Those who see you will gaze at you, And consider you, saying: ‘Is this the man who made the earth tremble, Who shook kingdoms,

Jesus told us He saw Satan fall from heaven like lightning.  Here we see the pride and arrogance of him wanting to be God, and how he was sent down by God.  How he then terrorized people on earth - but in the end when he is trapped in the lake of fire forever, we who are with Christ will ask, "Is this the one who shook kingdoms, who made the world as a wilderness and destroyed its cities, who did not open the house of his prisoners?" 

My Redeemer Is My Desire

Psalms 73:23-28  
Nevertheless I am continually with You; You hold me by my right hand.  24 You will guide me with Your counsel, And afterward receive me to glory.  25 Whom have I in heaven but You?  And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You.  26 My flesh and my heart fail; But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.  27 For indeed, those who are far from You shall perish; You have destroyed all those who desert You for harlotry.  28 But it is good for me to draw near to God; I have put my trust in the Lord God, That I may declare all Your works.

Job 19:25-27   For I know that my Redeemer lives, And He shall stand at last on the earth; 26 And after my skin is destroyed, this I know, That in my flesh I shall see God, 27 Whom I shall see for myself, And my eyes shall behold, and not another.  How my heart yearns within me!

The hope that is no mere wish is absolute.  I will stand before my Lord God in Christ at the end, and He will make it so; so I put Him first day by day as I die to myself and live for Jesus Christ.  I draw closer to Him at every opportunity, and wait for the day I stand before Him who has my heart.  There will be shame for my failures, but joy in the forgiveness of the never-ending day's dawning. 

The Day of the Lord

Isaiah 13:6-13  
Wail, for the day of the Lord is at hand!  It will come as destruction from the Almighty.  7 Therefore all hands will be limp, Every man's heart will melt, 8 And they will be afraid. Pangs and sorrows will take hold of them; They will be in pain as a woman in childbirth; They will be amazed at one another; Their faces will be like flames.  10 For the stars of heaven and their constellations Will not give their light; The sun will be darkened in its going forth, And the moon will not cause its light to shine.  11 “I will punish the world for its evil, And the wicked for their iniquity; I will halt the arrogance of the proud, And will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible.  13 Therefore I will shake the heavens, And the earth will move out of her place, In the wrath of the Lord of hosts And in the day of His fierce anger.

The end of this world will not be like a movie, but instead will find people overcome with fear and hopelessness at the judgment on all who have excused and refused God and His Son offered in their places.  The very universe will come crashing down on them, and real darkness will envelop all.  God in holiness will then judge the world after giving everyone so many chances to trust and follow Him.  The heavens and earth will be shaken for the last time before all is made new, without the darkness of rebellious evil.  No more pain, tears, or death - this is what Jesus died for. 

God is My Salvation (Yeshua)

Isaiah 12:1-5  
1 And in that day you will say: “O Lord, I will praise You; Though You were angry with me, Your anger is turned away, and You comfort me.  2 Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; ‘For Yah, the Lord, is my strength and song; He also has become my salvation.’”  3 Therefore with joy you will draw water From the wells of salvation.  4 And in that day you will say: “Praise the Lord, call upon His name; Declare His deeds among the peoples, Make mention that His name is exalted.  5 Sing to the Lord, For He has done excellent things; This is known in all the earth.

This is salvation - literally, being delivered from certain judgment for offending the holy God, all through Jesus Christ.  His anger was turned away from us by Christ standing in our place and suffering the price of death for each of us (but coming back to life to promise change and renewal forever).  So we who now are His can absolutely trust, find comfort, cease to fear, and find joy we can express in song and tell excitedly to others.   The whole earth needs to hear of His glory in all He has done for us who deserve nothing.  Grace and mercy, peace through reconciliation! 

The Anointed One

Isaiah 11:2, 9-10  
2 The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him, The Spirit of wisdom and understanding, The Spirit of counsel and might, The Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord.   9 They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain, For the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord As the waters cover the sea.  10 “And in that day there shall be a Root of Jesse, Who shall stand as a banner to the people; For the Gentiles shall seek Him, And His resting place shall be glorious.”

The Christ (Messiah) was told to come so that all nations could seek Him, resting in Him in such glory.  This is why the Gospel must be told to all peoples - so they all can know The Lord across all the world.  Then we all can know His wisdom, might, counsel, and fear of the Holy one.  Finding Him, or rather being found by Him, we find understanding and rest forever.  He is the Anointed One, the Messiah with God's Spirit (Luke 3:22, John 4:25). 

The Kingdom Come

Isaiah 9:7  
Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever.  The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.

Jesus the Christ, the Messiah, brings His kingdom in with righteous judgment and justice - judgment against the world who have all sinned and come short if His glory (standards of right), and justice to then punish all who are sinners.  But because we are all sinners, Jesus took our place in the judgment seat to suffer our due punishment.  Then He died and rose again.  Now we who turn from sin to His substitution for us have forgiveness and a certain hope of establishment in His presence forever - this is eternal life and the only true God and Savior, Jesus Christ. 

After Darkness, Everlasting Light

Isaiah 9:2-6  
The people who walked in darkness Have seen a great light; Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, Upon them a light has shined.  3 You have multiplied the nation And increased its joy; They rejoice before You According to the joy of harvest, As men rejoice when they divide the spoil.  4 For You have broken the yoke of his burden And the staff of his shoulder, The rod of his oppressor, As in the day of Midian.  6 For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder.  And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

The light of the world has shone into darkness beyond Israel and to the end of the earth.  With great joy we have been led out of the slavery of sin and its taskmaster, just as Israel from Egypt's bondage.  Our chains are broken from sin, death, and Hell.  Our Savior is wonderful as a counselor to guide and perfect us, He is our all-powerful God, equal to the Father, and is the Prince of Peace as He reconciled us to Himself in the suffering, death on the cross, and rising from death. 

Hallowed be His Name

Isaiah 8:11-17

For the Lord spoke thus to me with a strong hand, and instructed me that I should not walk in the way of this people, ... Nor be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.  13 The Lord of hosts, Him you shall hallow; Let Him be your fear, And let Him be your dread.  14 He will be as a sanctuary, But a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense To both the houses of Israel, As a trap and a snare ... 15 And many among them shall stumble; They shall fall and be broken, Be snared and taken.” ...  17 And I will wait on the Lord, Who hides His face from the house of Jacob; And I will hope in Him.

We must walk a steady path towards our calling; fear of threats and trouble will fade away when we fear and revere God who is Almighty.  We can take refuge in Christ, who is a stumbling block for those rejecting Him as The Lord.  So those opposed to Jesus will be snared in the trap they set themselves, only to stumble, fall, and be broken - Jesus says that rock will grind them to powder... So we who know Him wait, hope, and run toward that goal with the prize of forever being with our God. 

God's Sign is Immanuel

Isaiah 7:7-9, 11-14   
thus says the Lord God: “It shall not stand,Nor shall it come to pass....If you will not believe, Surely you shall not be established.” ’”... “Ask a sign for yourself from the Lord your God; ask it either in the depth or in the height above.”  12 But Ahaz said, “I will not ask, nor will I test the Lord!”  13 Then he said, “ Hear now, O house of David! Is it a small thing for you to weary men, but will you weary my God also? 14 Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.

If God speaks through a prophet as Isaiah in the OT, or as Hebrews 1 tells us now by His Son, we must listen.  Evil Ahaz pretended to not test the Lord, but really did not believe (lacked faith) and so was not established in God.  We believe God was born as a man through a woman by His Spirit (and so a virgin not knowing a man), and so we are reborn, established by faith in Christ by taking God at His word by the sign He chose to give us. 

Hardened Hearts Cannot See

Isaiah 6:9-10 
And He said, “ Go, and tell this people: ‘Keep on hearing, but do not understand; Keep on seeing, but do not perceive. ’ 10 “Make the heart of this people dull, And their ears heavy, And shut their eyes; Lest they see with their eyes, And hear with their ears, And understand with their heart, And return and be healed.”

Just as Bill Nye last night refused to consider a Creator God, choosing instead to rely on man's knowledge of the world, so God's people in Isaiah's time rejected Him until God allowed their eyes and ears to remain shut as long as they refused to humble themselves before their Maker.  Jesus told their descendants the Pharisees and scribes the same.  Do we then listen and look with eyes wide open and attentive to hear? 

Undone and Unclean Cry, Hineni!

Isaiah 6:5-8  
So I said: “Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, The Lord of hosts.”  6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a live coal which he had taken with the tongs from the altar. 7 And he touched my mouth with it, and said: “Behold, this has touched your lips; Your iniquity is taken away, And your sin purged.”  8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: “Whom shall I send, And who will go for Us?” Then I said, “ Here am I! Send me.”

What will happen when we see God face to face?  Isaiah saw his own sinfulness in the face of absolute holiness and perfection.  Only God can cleanse us, taking away all our disobedience and corruption of soul.  He did this by suffering and dying for us as if it were us on the cross.  He then calls out for us to go and tell others of our cleansing, much as the healed leper - do we hear Him? 

Holy Be Your Name

Isaiah 6:1-3 
1 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple. 2 Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings:with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 3 And one cried to another and said:

“ Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts;

The whole earth is full of His glory!”

Do we fear God, in awe of His holiness, His absolute perfection, goodness, and power?  Even angels cover their eyes before Him as they constantly acknowledge this holiness and glory.  Everything God made reflects perfection, and yet we tear it down and scoff at the Creator's majesty and fail to fall before Him in fearful awe and thanksgiving.   Let us instead remind ourselves who He is and glorify Him with all we are.