Isaiah 14:24-32 - Judgment on Assyria and Philistia

Do not rejoice, O Philistia, all of you, because the rod that struck you is broken"

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There is "no honor among thieves"...

You know, when Babylon went down Assyria and Philistia were excited. One less competitor for world domination. Human nature hasn't changed. Today we want to rejoice when some bad actor "get's his due"  Who didn't rejoice when Bernie Madoff went to prison?

We rejoiced when Germany was defeated...twice. We rejoiced when the Soviet Union fell. As though we believe God doesn't like Germans or Russians. Well, the Germans are still a prosperous nation. The Russians people still live their lives. It's wickedness that God hates...not people.

Of course, if we aren't careful, our nation will be next. If we can read the first chapter of Romans and not see America...we aren't very literate. And, Paul was describing the very sins that led to the destruction of the ancient kingdoms.

The world calls It "Karma"..."what goes around, comes around". We'd be better served to call it what it is...GOD. Why? Because karma can be beat. Lot's of people think they can dodge karma.

We will never dodge God...

Whatever it is that destroyed Babylon will just as surely destroy the others. So, God planned to break Assyria trample her.  This is the plan devised against the whole earth; and this is the hand that is stretched out against all the nations. For the Lord of hosts has planned, and who can frustrate it?

But, the metaphor is clear. "The Lord has established Zion and in her his afflicted people will find refuge"

God has provided refuge for those who trust Him. When all of creation is on the precipice of receiving just due for it's arrogance toward God...there is a "shelter in the time of storm". Settle in, batten down the hatches. It might be a bumpy ride. But...a ride we will safely survive.

Live boldly out there today...

Isaiah 14:1-23

“How you have fallen from heaven, O star of the morning, son of the dawn! You have been cut down to the earth, You who have weakened the nations! “But you said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God, And I will sit on the mount of assembly in the recesses of the north. ‘I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.’

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The Christian rock group, Petra, wrote this song:

Son of the morning--highest of all
You had so much going till you took the fall
Had a place in the glory but you wanted it all
Impossible odds but you had the gall
It seemed so unlikely that you would rebel
Such a worthy opponent that you knew so well
But you went down fighting when you heard the bell
Took a third of all heaven when you went to hell

This means war--and the battle's still raging
War--and though both sides are waging
The Victor is sure and the victory secure
But till judgement we all must endure
This Means War!
 

Whatever the historical context, all commentators agree with PETRA and regard this as a reflection on the origins of Satan...ushering in the cosmic battle between Good and evil. Just in case you think this whole "good and evil" thing is God's fault, it's not. Satan started it all.

And...this means war!

Again...it's pride. Can we see the pattern? Evil was conceived in pride at the outset. It's ugliness has infected us all. If we are not willing to let God excise that sin from our lives we await the same fate. "Those who see you will gaze at you, They will ponder over you, saying, Is this the man who made the earth tremble, Who shook kingdoms?"

It's easy to wonder if such a systemic failure can ever be overcome. I like what PETRA says: "The Victor is sure and the victory secure"

Live boldly out there today...

Isaiah 13 - Prophecies about Babylon

"The oracle concerning Babylon...I have commanded My consecrated ones, I have even called My mighty warriors, My proudly exulting ones, To execute My anger...to destroy the whole land"

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 This is a warning...

 

Isaiah didn't write this passage for us. We've been taken care of. Isaiah wrote this prophesy for Babylon and Assyria. For the Philistines and Moab.

Or, basically...anybody or anything that has been our source of trouble.
The remains of Babylon are found in present-day Iraq, about 85 kilometres (53 mi) south of Baghdad. All that remains of the original ancient famed city of Babylon today is a large mound, or tell, of broken mud-brick buildings and debris in the fertile Mesopotamian plain between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. Originally a minor administrative center, Babylon became an independent city-state in 1894 BC.  The Babylonians were more often ruled by other foreign migrant dynasties throughout their history, such as by the Chaldeans and their fellow Mesopotamians, the Assyrians.

Throughout the duration of the Neo Assyrian Empire (911–608 BC) Babylonia was under constant Assyrian domination or direct control. During the reign of Sennacherib of Assyria, Babylonia was in a constant state of revolt and suppressed only by the complete destruction of the city of Babylon. In 689 BC, its walls, temples and palaces were razed, and the rubble was thrown into the the sea bordering the earlier Babylon. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babylon

And, Isaiah wrote this prophesy just 11 years earlier:And every man’s heart will melt. They will be terrified, pains and anguish will take hold of them;

they will writhe like a woman in labor. It's a situation that, humanly, we all relish: Finally, the bad guys get what's coming to them. The day is coming when God will punish the world for its evil. He will also put an end to the arrogance of the proud.

Now, of course, all this has a historical foundation. Babylon was destroyed...never to be inhabited again. It also has an apocalyptic fulfillment when Christ returns to reclaim his creation.

Turns out it was all about pride. Babylon, the beauty of kingdoms, the glory of the Chaldeans’ pride, saw itself as having no peer...even God. When that happens, bad things result.

But we shouldn't rejoice. We've been "read into" these future events so we can join Isaiah in warning the Babylons around us. It causes God great anguish when the wicked perish without repenting. He loves us all. It should cause us the same sense of sadness and loss.

I know...they didn't listen to Isaiah either. That's not the point.

Live boldly out there today...

 

Isaiah 12

"Then you will say on that day, “I will give thanks to You, O Lord; For although You were angry with me, Your anger is turned away, And You comfort me. Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid"

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So...our days of trouble will end, God will provide a highway back to himself, and we will finally recognize life for what it really is: a fearless intimacy with God.

By the way...that "highway" was built by His Son, Jesus Christ. When he became a man, was crucified, suffered and died, he paid the entire cost of our sin. When he arose he infused eternal life into all those who believe. Death is no more!

I have a great respect for President Eisenhower, and for the interstate highway system he built, But...in his wildest dreams...DDE could never have contemplated a highway straight to the heart of God.

Even better...it's not a future hope. Salvation has come to us and is available now. When we receive that gift we are given spiritual eyes to recognize it's not about the trouble behind us, it's about the promise before us.

Live boldly out there today...

Isaiah 11

 "A shoot will come from the stump of Jesse..."

"The Spirit of the Lord will rest on Him, The spirit of wisdom and understanding, The spirit of counsel and strength, The spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. And He will delight in the fear of the Lord"

"Then in that day The nations will resort to the root of Jesse"

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The Psalmist (34:19) said "the righteous will have many troubles but the Lord delivers him from them all" 

If we are faithful, we will not be destroyed by our trouble...that's a promise. Therefore, we should not fear. Furthermore, we are told that when these days of trouble pass a new reality will be ushered in; a reality that will witness God in command. He will judge fairly and wisely.

I realize this may see a long way off...but it may not be.

Even so, "when" is not our concern. Our concern is remaining faithful until that time arrives.

"And there will be a highway from Assyria for the remnant of His people who will be left". Think about it. Not only is Christ returning to make things right, we won't have any difficulty figuring out how to join him. The road out of our troubled existence...into a new world of peace and hope...will be a superhighway...with an "on-ramp" wherever one of God's faithful happens to be dwelling.

Live boldly out there today...
 

Isaiah 10:20-34

“O My people who dwell in Zion, do not fear the Assyrian who strikes you with the rod and lifts up his staff against you."

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It's not the Assyrians.

Nor, is it cancer, divorce, unemployment or errant children.

When we face difficulties we wonder if the difficulty itself will destroy us. The problem with this is, not only is it untrue, but...it takes our attention away from the truth.

God has never had an intention of destroying us. His discipline is meant only to restore and strengthen us. He will never send trouble that cannot accomplish this purpose.

So, don't be afraid...

Rather, in the face of adversity, we should ask ourselves "what is the purpose and meaning of this?" This allows us to focus behind the trouble and examine the cause.

Thomas Edison once said "I've never failed. I've only found a thousand ways that don't work!" Think about it. If we can learn the purpose of the struggle...and the reason why God allows it...we may learn lessons sufficient to ensure we don't have to endure that one again.

That's a good thing...

Live boldly out there today...

Isaiah 10:1-19

And where will you leave your wealth?

What really “gets God’s goat” is our willingness to be abusive to others. After all, every person to whom we are unkind, thoughtless and uncaring…is a child of God. He doesn’t take kindly to our abuse of His property.

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We’re beginning to see what God’s complain really was. He said “Woe to those who enact evil statutes and to those who constantly record unjust decisions, so as to deprive the needy of justice and rob the poor of My people of their rights, so that widows may be their spoil and that they may plunder the orphans”.

God loves each of us with a profound jealousy. He will not tolerate any abuse by others. So, if we are ever in a position where we exercise authority over others…don’t forget…our authority must always be leavened with a loving concern for their welfare. In the case of Judah, God was angry with the leaders. They were depriving the needy and poor…for their own benefit.

And…if we choose to do likewise, God says “now what will you do in the day of punishment…to whom will you flee for help?” And…where will you leave your wealth?

It tells us something about human nature: we tend to be abusive when we decide there is something in it for us; fortune, power, acclaim. But, of course, nothing we accrue through our bad behavior will last. In fact…it is exactly that bad behavior that will bring God’s judgment.

I don’t think America is so far away from that kind of judgment. That judgment will include stripping us of all we have earned through nefarious means. And…if God decides to take it, there is no place to hide it.

I only suggest that we Christians should avoid getting caught up in it. We should be busy exercising the same kind of care and compassion that God has exercised toward us.

Live boldly out there today…