Isaiah 66

"For as the new heavens and the new earth which I will make shall remain before me, says the Lord;
so shall your descendants and your name remain. From new moon to new moon, and from sabbath to sabbath, all flesh shall come to worship before me,"

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Can you believe it? there will come a day when "everybody" will bow down and worship God. It's difficult to imagine in today's world. But...it won't be today's world.

Ray Stedman say the fascinating thing about this final chapter is that it is a direct reply to the yearning on the part of many in Israel today to rebuild the temple upon Mount Moriah. As you know, some Christians are also committed to rebuilding a temple upon that mount. They are determined to do this and they are working every way they can to accomplish it. God has a word for them, which we find in the opening words of this chapter...

This is what the Lord says: “Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. Where is the house you will build for me? Where will my resting place be? Has not my hand made all these things, and so they came into being?”

And...with the building of a new Temple comes...sacrifices. Of course, this is the one thing Israel did so well. The sacrificial system was comprehensive and complete. It was detailed and devout.

It appears however, when Christ returns to dwell in His Holy Temple, things will be a bit different. God says "whoever sacrifices a bull is like one who kills a person, and whoever offers a lamb is like one who breaks a dog’s neck; whoever makes a grain offering is like one who presents pig’s blood.",

If we understand correctly, The old sacrifices will become criminal acts in the new Temple. This could be a problem because there is no point in having a temple without having offerings. So, what might the offerings be for the new Temple?

The Lord declares...“These are the ones I look on with favor: those who are humble and contrite in spirit, and who tremble at my word".

So, here we have it...when Christ returns it will be as He always intended.Our relationship with God will be based on humility and contrition. There is nothing else we can bring. When we do so God says “I will extend peace to her like a river, and the wealth of nations like a flooding stream...people, from all the nations, [will come] to my holy mountain in Jerusalem as an offering to the Lord".

Nothing new, really. What will look new will actually be very, very old. It will be as originally designed. If we had done things properly at the outset we wouldn't be going through all this trouble today. So...we get a "do over".  And this time, with God's direction, we will get it right.

I like this. I can do this. My plan, between now and then, is to cultivate humility and contrition before God. If I begin now it won't be such an adjustment when He returns...

Live boldly out there today...

 

Isaiah 65

“I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me; I was found by those who did not seek me. To a nation that did not call on my name, I said, ‘Here am I, here am I.’

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We close the prophesy of Isaiah with Gods' response to Israel in the final two chapters. He begins by saying "I've been here all along. In fact, I've been trying to get your attention!".

Of course, God was attempting to draw the attention of a people who "continually provoke me to my very face, offering sacrifices in gardens and burning incense on altars of brick; who sit among the graves and spend their nights keeping secret vigil; who eat the flesh of pigs, and whose pots hold broth of impure meat; who say, ‘Keep away; don’t come near me, for I am too sacred for you!’
Such people are smoke in my nostrils, a fire that keeps burning all day".

Since God is righteous He demands justice for the sins of Israel so He says "I will not keep silent but will pay back in full; I will pay it back into their laps—both your sins and the sins of your ancestors,” And, we know, the "time of Jacob's trouble" is not over. 

It seems axiomatic that whenever we call upon God for deliverance...from anything...the first thing God has to do is clean up the mess we made because the mess is what's making us sick. Think of a physician. If you go to him with an infected cut, the first thing he has to do is debride the wound. If you go to a financial manager the first thing she will do is perform a major "housecleaning" of your existing money situation.

Same with God. He will have to debride our lives of the toxic consequences of our misbehavior...sin. This can be painful but it's the only path to healing. But...as Paul Harvey famously used to say, this is "the rest of the story!" Our world doesn't end with God punishing Israel. It ends with God's blessings.

He says "See, I will create new heavens and a new earth...
1. Never again will there be in it an infant who lives but a few days, or
2. The one who dies at a hundred will be thought a mere child;
3. No longer will they build houses and others live in them, or plant and others eat.
4. They will not labor in vain, nor will they bear children doomed to misfortune; for they will be a people blessed by the Lord, they and their descendants with them. 
5. Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear.
6. The wolf and the lamb will feed together, and
7. The lion will eat straw like the ox,
8. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, says the Lord".

This is the picture of life for believers when Christ returns. Are we willing to undergo spiritual cleansing in order to enjoy the things to come? Some say "the treatment is worse than the disease". Not in this case.

Live boldly out there today...

Isaiah 64

"Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains would tremble before you!...For when you did awesome things that we did not expect, you came down, and the mountains trembled before you. Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him".

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We understand powerful people act in their own best interests. We aren't surprised by this. This is the point of being powerful. So...when somebody is good to us we rightfully understand there is something in it for them. It's not really about us.

But...what if there was such a thing as a national/world leader whose only motivation for exercising power was to further our best interests? Cynically, I would say I've never seen one.

With a single exception...Israel would agree. Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him".

Which, of course, implies one does exist...

Unbelievers need to take a closer look at God. It's so easy to view everything about God as accruing benefit to Himself. In other words...God does things because He can and because He wants to. This view makes God "other than us"...impersonal...unengaged and unconcerned. No wonder much of the world believes God's demand for worship is a supreme ego trip.

What if it wasnt' about God? What if it was all about us...as Israel claims?

What if the only possible "good outcome" for our eternity was that we worship God? Not because God demanded it but because it was simply cosmic reality? Would God's demand then derive from His ego or from the depths of His heart?

Failure to know God as fully benevolent is failure to know ourselves. If we know ourselves to be somebody who doesn't need God we will only regard God's direction as usurping our liberty to decide for ourselves. If we know ourselves to be sinners in need of salvation our view changes dramatically.

Which explains Israel's prayer in Chapter 64, Israel is asking for God's judgement. She says "We know this will be terrible, but it is the only way. So come, Lord, do your work." Hasn't this been our cry at times, when we have seen the terrible things that are going on around us? "Lord, come and end this terrible scene, at whatever cost"?

Can we say this...without equivocation? Lord, come and end this terrible scene, at whatever cost"? Or, are we nervous about what it might look like? Or, do we think things don't really look that bad? If so...way may not have the most appropriate notion of who God really is.

Live boldly out there today...


   

Isaiah 63

"I will tell of the kindnesses of the Lord, the deeds for which he is to be praised, according to all the Lord has done for us—yes, the many good things he has done for Israel, according to his compassion and many kindnesses. He said, “Surely they are my people, children who will be true to me”; and so he became their Savior".

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 "And so he became their Savior...".

Why? Because God believes his people will be true to Him.

While Chapter 62 talks about the "Day of God's favor", the interim between Christ's first and second coming, Chapter 63 portrays "The year of God's vengeance"...Christ returning to put things right. This is the Messiah coming to Jerusalem, through Edom, with blood-soaked garments. He says "I  trampled them in my anger and trod them down in my wrath; their blood spattered my garments,
and I stained all my clothing. It was for me the day of vengeance; the year for me to redeem had come".

Edom, or Idumea,  was a Semite-inhabited region located south of Judea and the Dead Sea. The name means "red" in Hebrew, and was given to Esau by his father Isaac. Edom had been a thorn in the side of Israel for centuries. Ezekiel said "Because Edom acted revengefully against the house of Judah and has grievously offended in taking vengeance upon them, therefore thus says the Lord GOD, I will stretch out my hand against Edom, and cut off from it man and beast; and I will make it desolate; from Teman even to Dedan they shall fall by the sword. And I will lay my vengeance upon Edom by the hand of my people Israel; and they shall do in Edom according to my anger and according to my wrath; and they shall know my vengeance, says the Lord GOD." (Ezekiel 25:12-14)
Edom lives no more....

Why? Because God will protect those in whom He delights...whatever the cost. So think about this for a moment. If the Church shares in the eschatologic promises for Israel because we are the spiritual descendant of Israel, will the world's disobedient nations share in the punishment of Edom because they are the spiritual sons of Edom?

I'd say yes...

Let me ask this question: Since we are not citizens of this world...the Church is an independent nation called by God with citizenship in Heaven...when Christ returns to gather us home does it not seem likely that this is His final act of protection toward those in whom He delights? If so, shouldn't we be busy trying to help the citizens of this world transfer their own citizenship to Heaven before vengeance falls? Of course.

Live boldly out there today...

Isaiah 62

No longer will they call you Deserted, or name your land Desolate. But you will be called Hephzibah,
and your land Beulah; for the Lord will take delight in you, and your land will be married. As a young man marries a young woman, so will your Builder marry you; as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you.

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All of Chapter 62 goes on to describe the restoration of Israel. All of this applies to us spiritually, as a description of our permanent relationship with God and describing the security of the believer.

Elmer Towns tells us "Hephzibah” is found twice in the Old Testament, 2 Kings 21:1 and Isaiah 62:4. Translated from the original Hebrew, Hephzibah literally means, “My delight is in her.” In 2 Kings 21:1, Hephzibah is the name of King Hezekiah’s wife. The name expresses a very clear meaning of "guarding" or "taking care of." Therefore the name Hephzibah means not only someone who evokes delight, but also "one who is guarded," a "protected one."

I am comforted by the idea that God can delight in me and protect me. As I look around, most people I know are not that dependable. Their willingness to delight in...or protect...me is mostly determined by their opinion of me. Unfortunately that opinion is not always something I can influence.

God, on the other hand, has determined to delight in me...and protect me...in spite of who I am. He has determined to do this simply because He loves me. How is it that God can love me, warts and all, when others cannot? I believe it's because God views me (us) through the sacrifice of his son and we will be called the "Holy People, the Redeemed of the Lord; and [we] will be called Sought After". 

Its difficult to own this promise because we know we don't deserve to be called "Holy". It's time we get over ourselves and let God be God. We are Holy and God is delighted in us. He will protect us.

Live boldly out there today...

Isaiah 61

"The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good tidings to the afflicted; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor". 

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Jesus stood up in synagogue and quoted this scripture. Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. As all eyes were fastened on him. He began by saying “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”

 

At first everybody was amazed. They wanted to see him perform all those mighty acts. Then, of course, Jesus said He wouldn't.  He said  “Truly I tell you, no prophet is accepted in his hometown".

This didn't go over well. The people in the synagogue were furious when they heard this. They kill Him...throw him off a cliff. But...He walked right through the crowd and went on his way.

All those folks knew Isaiah 61 referenced their coming Messiah. They had no difficulty cheering Jesus as that Messiah as long as He played the role according to their expectations. When Jesus demurred they turned on Him.

Things aren't different today. I can't begin to estimate how many times I've heard people say they no longer have an interest in God because "He didn't come through". The reasons are legion but have a common theme. "I needed something, I asked God, and He didn't answer. I quit!"  What they really mean is..."Things in my life aren't going the way I want them to go...who needs a God who doesn't give me what I want?".

This is a huge misunderstanding of God's plan. The plan was always two parts. First, come to explain what God requires...Next, come back to implement what God requires. But...we all need a little time to adjust/respond to the message of first trip...which was "repent!"

That would be...NOW.

The glory of the first trip is that, in explaining what God requires, Jesus delivered an inoculation against the consequences of the second trip...

Ray Stedman reminds us to note carefully where Jesus stopped reading. He did not go on to read, "and the day of vengeance of our God," because when He first came He introduced "the day of God's favor,"  the day when God withholds his judgment. So...for 2,000 years we have been living in "the day of God's favor." God is still giving people the opportunity to follow Him. And, people continue to reject Him. But...God is loving and patient. He will not usher in "the day of vengeance of our God," until everybody has had the opportunity to follow Him.

Now, we can reject Jesus becuase He doesn't resemble the kind of Messiah we prefer or...we can look at the mighty miracles as evidence Christ's bona fides. The thing we can't do is insist on "just one more and I'll believe".

Live boldly out there today...