Where does God dwell? — Isaiah 54-58

Posted on September 25, 2011 by parklinscomb

Thanks for being patient during my little hiatus, taking care of my wife, Linda. She’s recovering nicely. Yesterday I only covered Isaiah 53, and then only barely scratched the surface of what I think can and should be said about it. Today, I’m trying to catch up a bit and covering 5 chapters, all of which have, of course, really great passages that we really should marinate in for a while — yet, that is not the pace of a daily reading schedule. Chapters 54, 55, and most of 56 are part of a lengthy section about the Remnant — double-prophetic sections telling us about both the returning exiles of Israel (a prophecy to be fulfilled in about 200 years) and the church (fulfilled in about 700 years).

“So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.” Isaiah 55:11 — From the moment of creation, when God said things like, “Let there be light”, there was going to be light. When God determines blessings or curses upon men and so speaks, men are blessed or cursed. When God tells us in prophecy what will happen in the future, it is done. And when the Father “spoke” the Word (“And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14, NAS95.) to save guilty mankind, guilty mankind was rescued (“But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),” Ephesians 2:4, 5, NAS95). And this is an important point to acknowledge — when God speaks what the conditions of salvation are, that’s what they are; when God tells us what is sin and what is righteousness, that’s what they are; when God tells us the consequences for sin or righteousness are, that’s what they are. There are no “ifs”, “ands”, or “buts” about it.

“Thus says the LORD, “Preserve justice and do righteousness, For My salvation is about to come And My righteousness to be revealed.” Isaiah 56:1 — This is sort of a John the Baptist appeal to Israel to reform its ways before the coming of the Day of the Lord (both the return from exile and the Messiah’s coming). It’s the part that says, “…for My salvation is about to come and My righteousness to be revealed,” that really caught my attention. Paul spoke about a salvation and righteousness of God to be revealed in Romans 1:16,17: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, ‘BUT THE RIGHTEOUS man SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.’” Later, in Romans 3:21-25 and Romans 6:1-11, we find that this righteousness of God is a righteousness and new sort of life given us because we have been united with Christ in baptism.

“For thus says the high and exalted One Who lives forever, whose name is Holy, ‘I dwell on a high and holy place, And also with the contrite and lowly of spirit In order to revive the spirit of the lowly And to revive the heart of the contrite.’” Isaiah 57:15 — God is near to the humble and repentant. What a wonderful promise this is. It’s so good to know, when my heart is broken over my sin and I’m feeling like surely God is far, far away — He is near to the heart of the contrite, He bends low like a father to hear the confession of a wayward son and lift him up. No wonder Jesus urges us: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” Matthew 5:3, 4, NAS95.

“Is this not the fast which I choose, To loosen the bonds of wickedness, To undo the bands of the yoke, And to let the oppressed go free And break every yoke?” Isaiah 58:6 — Fasting has been known among men for millennia. It is common to demonstrate deep sorrow for sin or to humble oneself in conjunction with prayer for an answer from God. In modern times it is often considered a spiritual discipline for training the will to resist bodily cravings. They may have their place and benefits (although Colossians 2:20-23 may actually be Paul’s warning about fasting disciplines associated with Judaizing teachings), but God’s preferred fast for men is not simply abstaining food and drink, but from sinful practices.

See you tomorrow, Lord willing.

 

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The Old Testament Gospel — Isaiah 53-55

Posted on September 24, 2011 by parklinscomb

There are great passages that I love and have committed to memory, but this one is almost like holy ground to me. In twelve verses the essence of the Gospel is told, and it does this so beautifully that it moves me every time — chapter 53, the Suffering Servant. There’s so much here that I don’t want to miss in this passage, that I’ll do this one a little differently. We’ll get back to a normal form next time. But in meantime, let this passage move you.

“Who has believed our message? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? Who would possibly have guessed God’s great plan. It was counter-intuitive; it seemed impossible; and it is possibly the reason why so many of God’s people rejected Jesus and God’s plan. They expected a completely different Messiah, and when Jesus didn’t fit that image, they rejected Him. There’s a lesson for us here: it is God’s plan, not ours, that will count. It includes faith in Jesus (and no one else), repentance of sin (by God’s definition, not man’s), confession of Jesus as the Son of God, and baptism (immersion in water) in Jesus’ name for forgiveness of sin.  

For He grew up before Him like a tender shoot, And like a root out of parched ground; Unknown, unregarded, and barely noticeable. The “root of David” was considered to be “dead” from the perspective of prominence. The Messiah would be as unnoticed as a little shoot off a dry root.

He has no stately form or majesty That we should look upon Him, Nor appearance that we should be attracted to Him. The Jewish expectation was of a stately looking king. But as in the story of the anointing of David, God isn’t interested in exteriors, but in interiors — what’s inside.

He was despised and forsaken of men, A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; And like one from whom men hide their face He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. The Messiah was not going to be coming on a white steed with the nation bowing down humbly before Him. Instead dishonor and contempt awaited Him. 

Surely our griefs He Himself bore, And our sorrows He carried; Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, Smitten of God, and afflicted. The poverty, the disgrace of His birth, the opposition of the religious leaders — all of them convinced many that His condemnation and suffering were the result of God’s judgment.

But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed. But in a cosmically ironic twist, His death was for OUR benefit — pierced for US, crushed for US, chastened for US, scourged for US. 

All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; Paul put it this way, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” Romans 3:23, NAS95.

But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all To fall on Him. Because of Jesus’ willingness to offer Himself, because He would be innocent and not in need of paying for His own sins, He became the perfect substitute — the LORD causes the iniquity of US ALL to fall like millions and millions of tons of horrific anvils — on Him

He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He did not open His mouth; Like a lamb that is led to slaughter, And like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, So He did not open His mouth. The Messiah would not defend Himself, like a lamb led to slaughter. The high priest, the Sanhedrin, and even Pilate were all amazed with Jesus’ refusal to defend Himself. This is something that only a person who is deliberately dying for another would do. 

By oppression and judgment He was taken away; The Messiah would not be punished by righteous and fair judgment. Jesus was not.

And as for His generation, who considered That He was cut off out of the land of the living For the transgression of my people, to whom the stroke was due? The people of His day would never guess the ultimate reason for the Messiah’s death on the cross. Those who wagged their heads at Jesus on the cross were eligible to receive pardon by the very death that they taunted.

His grave was assigned with wicked men, Yet He was with a rich man in His death, Because He had done no violence, Nor was there any deceit in His mouth. It was naturally assumed that Jesus would receive a criminal’s burial. He was, after all, traded for Barabbas, condemned by lawful authorities, and crucified between thieves. But instead, He was improbably buried in a rich man’s tomb, because of His sinless and godly life.

But the LORD was pleased To crush Him, putting Him to grief; “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” John 3:16, NAS95.

If He would render Himself as a guilt offering, He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days, The Messiah would offer Himself for the salvation of mankind, and His reward would be His resurrection, obliquely referenced here.

And the good pleasure of the LORD will prosper in His hand. As a result of the anguish of His soul, He will see it and be satisfied; The LORD’s desire for mankind as been, since the first day of sin, to save rather than condemn mankind. The difficulty has always been the rightful demands of the LORD’s justice. The Messiah would satisfy the justice of the LORD upon a sinful mankind; the New Testament word is propitiation. Jesus successfully and heroically accomplished the great will of God.

By His knowledge the Righteous One, My Servant, will justify the many, As He will bear their iniquities. The Messiah, Jesus, would know about righteousness, sin, Satan’s schemes, and what it took to rescue a fallen mankind — a substitutionary offering of Himself.

Therefore, I will allot Him a portion with the great, And He will divide the booty with the strong; Because He poured out Himself to death, And was numbered with the transgressors; The LORD’s allotment of a portion with the great speaks to the exaltation and rightful praise of the Messiah. The division of plunder is done with those who are the valiant and the victors — and the exaltation and victory is done paradoxically by pouring Himself out to death and allowing Himself to be numbered with sinners — considered one. 

Yet He Himself bore the sin of many, And interceded for the transgressors.” Isaiah 53:1-12, NAS95. A substitution and intercessor.

See you tomorrow, Lord willing.

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Back soon

Posted on September 23, 2011 by parklinscomb

Hi everyone. Hopefully, you’ve noticed that I didn’t get my blog published lately. Sorry. Taking care of Linda after her surgery has taken more time than I thought it would. She’s much more mobile now. I’ll be back on line soon. Thanks for understanding.

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Pay attention to Me, O My people — Isaiah 50-52

Posted on September 21, 2011 by parklinscomb

When things go bad in our lives, our first impulse is often to look heavenward and ask, “Why?” Sometimes, God is not involved at all — it’s Satan or evil men or the result of the fall (disease, aging, etc.). But sometimes it is God; and when it is, it is the result of our sin. Today’s reading deals in part with this truth. But also with God’s redemption and Messianic Redeemer.

The tongue of disciples — 50:4-11

The tongue of a disciple says exactly what the master says. In this case the master is the Master, God. It comes from listening closely to the Teacher and recites faithfully what the Teacher has said. Isaiah is originally saying th is to emphasize the truthfulness of this message — God has said it. But it has application to all Christians, too, as spokesmen for God with the Gospel. As disciples we have no authority to make it up on our own, indeed, when we do, we cease being a disciple. “Is baptism really required for salvation?” some have manufactured their own answer, and ceased to be disciples. “Is sexual immorality really wrong?” Some teach that the times have changed the morality of God, and they cease to be disciples. “Is the church necessary; is the assembly required?” Again, some make up their own answers, and cease to be disciples.

This section is specifically speaking about the Messiah — who Himself also spoke only what the Father gave Him to speak: “For I did not speak on My own initiative, but the Father Himself who sent Me has given Me a commandment as to what to say and what to speak.” John 12:49, NAS95. For that He received contempt rather than obedience, which is why Isaiah’s prophecy goes on to say, “I gave My back to those who strike Me, And My cheeks to those who pluck out the beard; I did not cover My face from humiliation and spitting.” Isaiah 50:6, NAS95.

Do not fear the reproach of man — Isaiah 51:7,8,12

Most of don’t suffer physical persecution. But that doesn’t mean that we don’t feel the temptation to give up; often our fear of the reproaches and revilings of others are sufficient. But what does the opinion of others matter, since they all pass away like the grass? Worldly men will never like what the Lord says — or His disciples (see above). They’ll be disdainful of the message; they’ll revile the messenger; and they’ll speak of how foolish, old-fashioned, and backward it all is — spoken in such a fashion as to warn every hearer that contempt awaits anyone who would pay attention. Of course, in the end, they all become believers, if you know what I mean — “For the moth will eat them like a garment, and the grub will eat them like wool” (51:8a,b). On the other hand, “But My righteousness will be forever, and My salvation to all generations” (51:8c,d).

How lovely on the mountains…

This passage is one that is familiar to many of us who have heard a sermon about our obligation to share the Gospel. It’s original context has a lot to do with the good news of Israel’s return to its homeland. To the original hearers, this would have been really good news indeed. Though they would be exiled, they would still return and do so with unimaginable help from the Gentile world — a blessing directly from Lord. It was a message that would have been delivered with enthusiastic joy!

This prophecy is another one of those double prophecies, however, and without a doubt has New Testament application. Paul uses this passage as reinforcement in praise of the endeavor of evangelism: “How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, ‘HOW BEAUTIFUL ARE THE FEET OF THOSE WHO BRING GOOD NEWS OF GOOD THINGS!’” Romans 10:15, NAS95. And he uses it again as he describes a part of the full armor of God (Ephesians 6:15). For those of us who appreciate what the Lord has done for us, it is still delivered with enthusiastic joy!

My Servant will prosper

This section (52:13-15) introduces the wonderful and deep “Suffering Servant” passage of Isa. 53, which we’ll examine tomorrow. This passage is so vivid in its description of what Jesus did that it sometimes becomes the nub of controversy between Jewish and Christian teachers. Jewish teachers are motivated to characterize the “Suffering Servant” as Israel herself, but this introduction makes such an interpretation not possible. Note how the servant is referred to as an individual in comparison to Israel: “Just as many were astonished at you, My people, So His appearance was marred more than any man.” (52:14 NAS95).

And this Messiah would indeed be like Israel in that He would not be who you’d expect to save mankind. Israel, starting from a old childless husband and wife, was hardly what you’d expect for God’s grand scheme of redemption. So also Jesus: born poor, under a cloud of suspicion, a refuge for a while, growing up in a backwater portion of his homeland, starting out his mission at 30 years old, and then crucified — not your average resume for a successful world changer. Yet He would be greatly exalted, would shut the mouths of kings, and generally blow the world’s mind! No wonder the very first verse in Isaiah 53 starts off by saying, “Who has believed our message?”

See you tomorrow, Lord willing

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Here’s your sign — Isaiah 46-48

Posted on September 20, 2011 by parklinscomb

The purpose of signs, wonders, and prophecies is to create faith in God: “Wow, only God could do something like that!” But our problem as humans is that we seem to be perpetually trying to find ways to explain them away. “It wasn’t really God that divided the Red Sea, it was a natural effect of the explosive volcanic activity of Santorini. Yeah, yeah, that’s the ticket!” But in today’s reading God had something that He definitely didn’t want Israel to miss — that He Himself had planned and would execute the destruction of Babylon, the nation who would be punishing Israel for their sins. So, God was telling Israel a long time beforehand, “Don’t even think that this was something that your idols pulled off. I’m telling you right now, I’ve planned it and will do!” And while He’s at it, God will be telling us something about His Messiah — some 700-800 years before it will happens. For those who see the fulfillment, there should be no — absolutely no — doubt that the LORD is God; this was no coincidence or the hand of man or some so-called god. Let’s take a look…

Your wisdom and your knowledge, they have deceived you — 47:10

Babylon was known for their learning. This was the land of one the earliest forms of writing, cuneiform. The Chaldeans were renowned from the Indus River to Egypt for their knowledge and wisdom. Daniel was one of them in his day. The Magi (the wise men) of Jesus’ day were none other than the learned Chaldeans. But knowledge often puffs up the knowledgable and has been known to blind us to some of the more important things. That’s what God is telling the Babylonians; their knowledge of their gods, of reading omens, of magic, of spells, and of dream interpretation was going to deceive them rather than truthfully inform them. And it wouldn’t hurt for us to pay attention to the principle here. I am not — let me repeat, I am not — anti-science, but the history of science is absolutely replete with examples of firm but false conclusions, skewed results, recalibrations, and embarrassing assertions. One of the most infamous is evolution, which has been the foundation of many an unbelievers creed. Truth has nothing to fear from real science. But the eternally important truth is not found under a microscope, or behind a telescope, or inside a science book — it’s in the Bible.

Behold, I have refined you…in the furnace of affliction — 48:10

Precious metals are found in nature mixed in with plenty of impurities. Making it pure and valuable takes refining, smelting. The metal is heated to separate it from it’s impurities, and then heated again, and again, and again. Each time a little more impurity is removed. Each time the metal is a little more valuable. It’s a process. God sees men as also full of impurities that must be eliminated, in need of refining. But the heat that refines men is affliction. We humans hate it, question God’s existence because of it (because surely God wouldn’t allow this sort of thing to happen to me or those I love), we ask God to spare us, we resist, we try to wriggle free. We resist purification. But it’s what makes us what God wants of us, precious, valuable, pure, holy, strong, wiser, and faithful. “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” James 1:2-4, NAS95.

If only you had paid attention — 48:18

Here’s an interesting thought: how much better would your life and mine be, if only we had paid attention (listened and obeyed)? Israel’s life was about to get really, really rough. It didn’t need to have been so. How many more examples could be cited (tons) of judgments on Israel for unfaithfulness? There are consequences for our foolish moral choices. We make things so much harder for ourselves than they need to be.

I will make You a light of the nations — 49:6

This comes, of course, from another great Messianic prophecy. He would be (is) the light of the nations! Not just of Israel, but of the nations! God isn’t interested in just the Jews; He’s interested in the Gentiles, too. He’s not interested in just nice people; but not-so-nice people, too. He’s interested in the rich and the poor, the skinny and the fat, the quiet and the loud, the black and the white, the tall and the short, ancient men and modern men, the old and the young, men and women, the educated and the uneducated, and the smart and the slow — in short, everyone. Thank you, Lord.

Those who hopefully wait for Me will not be put to shame — 48:23

The chief operative word here is “hopefully”. Hope is a confident expectation that something will happen. God’s people are a people of hope and it is the hope that enables us to wait and have endurance. Such people will not be standing in the end with “egg on their face” — as the saying goes. They will be the ones cheering!

See you tomorrow, Lord willing.

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No other God — Isaiah 44-46

Posted on September 19, 2011 by parklinscomb

The main thrust of today’s reading, you may have noticed, is the uniqueness and only-ness of God. Although we assume monotheism in our culture, this section has great value to us because 1) it reminds how foolish the world of idolatry really is, 2) it reminds us how we can know that there is but one and only one God, and 3) it reminds us how that knowledge can and should effect us.

Part gets burned and part gets worshipped

In a fairly extensive string of verses, Isaiah really takes the world of idolatry to task with a clear exposé on the contradictions of idolatry. First, that mortals (men) could really create or form immortals (gods) — it’s supposed to work the other way around. How could a creature help or rescue its creator? The physical doesn’t make the spiritual; the spiritual makes the physical! Second, how could take the same material and destroy it in fire and then fall down before it in worship? If one part is holy, all of it is holy. Or if wasn’t holy before, how does man’s carving on it make it holy? “No one recalls, nor is there knowledge or understanding to say, “I have burned half of it in the fire and also have baked bread over its coals. I roast meat and eat it. Then I make the rest of it into an abomination, I fall down before a block of wood!”” Isaiah 44:19, NAS95.

The Cyrus prophecy

This is a great prophecy that God offers us to underscore how far superior He is to the idols. Was there ever a god who made such a prediction? Who named the name of the king (Cyrus) who would arise, conquer a great empire to create one of his own, and restore an exiled people to their homes and help them rebuild the Temple of God? It is such a clinching argument that it has become an item of contention to unbelievers, who will often accuse the text of actually being written after the rise of the Persian empire and the return of the people of Israel to the land of Israel. Unbelievers have a really hard time with miracles and predictive prophecy — the signs given to aid our faith — and they work pretty hard at trying to explain them away. Archaeological evidence, from the Dead Sea Scrolls to linguistics, stand witness to the genuineness the prophecy dating to before the rise of the Persian empire. God really did predict the coming of Cyrus and Israel’s return to the land of Judah. Other so-called gods do not do such things, because they cannot; they do not exist.

Do not fear

And for that reason Israel was not to fear. Oh yes, there would be judgment and punishment for Israel’s sins; but do not fear. The one and only God who loves you will also save His remnant. And there’s a great lesson here for us, when the waters of trial rise to our knees, to our waists, to our necks, and maybe to our noses — do not fear, because the one and only God will rescue. Just be faithful, hang on, persevere!

See you tomorrow, Lord willing.

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Behold My servant — Isaiah 41-43

Posted on September 18, 2011 by parklinscomb

Well, we continue with one of my favorite sections of Isaiah. There’s so much in these chapters that deal with not only God’s mercy on Israel returning from exile (the remnant) but also (by means of double fulfillment of prophecy) the church and the Messiah!

Do not fear — chapter 41

What fearful creatures we are! We’re fearful of the future, of what we don’t understand, of the evil that we know is in the world, of our lack of control and more. Despite our bravado, the Bible is full of encouragements to not fear — and we find comfort in them. Israel was fearful of its neighbors, but the LORD assures them of their safety in His hands and more…ascendency over them. If only they’d listen, their fears would have been assuaged (vv.27-29). Do we make similar mistakes? How often does the Lord tell us to put our lives in His hands, yet we worry, we hedge our bets, we fear. “For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? “Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?” Matthew 6:25, 26, NAS95.

Bringing justice to the nations — 42:1-13

This section (42:1-4) is quoted by Matthew as a clear reference to the Messiah

“This was to fulfill what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet: ‘BEHOLD, MY SERVANT WHOM I HAVE CHOSEN; MY BELOVED IN WHOM MY SOUL is WELL-PLEASED; I WILL PUT MY SPIRIT UPON HIM, AND HE SHALL PROCLAIM JUSTICE TO THE GENTILES. “HE WILL NOT QUARREL, NOR CRY OUT; NOR WILL ANYONE HEAR HIS VOICE IN THE STREETS. “A BATTERED REED HE WILL NOT BREAK OFF, AND A SMOLDERING WICK HE WILL NOT PUT OUT, UNTIL HE LEADS JUSTICE TO VICTORY. “AND IN HIS NAME THE GENTILES WILL HOPE.’” Matthew 12:17-21, NAS95.

Although the Jews of the first century were expecting a military Messiah, one with a nationalistic interest, this prophecy reveals a gentle One. He would be a Messiah promoting justice — to the Gentiles! Not a quarreler, not a shouter; not one who would hurt a fly — as we would put it. Hardly an expected picture of the conquering King, who would sit on the throne of David. But I gotta say — we all gotta say — I’m so glad this was the Messiah of God. A Messiah, who through His sacrifice, served God’s justice on sinful mankind, who created peace between God and man and Jew and Gentile (“For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall,” Ephesians 2:14, NAS95).

That, of course, is not to say that the Messiah isn’t a lion, too. But we’ll save that for another post.

Saying “Look!” to the blind, and speaking words to the deaf — 42:14-25

What’s the saying, “There’s none so blind as him who will not see”? I wonder if God feels like He’s talking to a brick wall sometimes. I rather suspect so. From our innate consciences to the revelations of the prophets to catastrophes, God has tried to speak to men; but men find every reason to ignore it. How refreshing it would be for God, if we’d just simply and humbly listen and obey.

See you tomorrow, Lord willing.

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Behold your God — Isaiah 38-40

Posted on September 17, 2011 by parklinscomb

Oh, boy! Today we get into one of my favorite sections of Isaiah. There’s enough here to dwell on for pages and pages — but I’ll spare you my gushes! Let’s get down to the text…

Hezekiah’s illness — chapters 38-39

We’ve touched on these stories twice already (2 Kings 20 and 2 Chronicles 32), so I’ll not comment too extensively here, except to point out “Hezekiah’s writing after his illness and recovery” (38:9-20). In this writing Hezekiah argues “For Sheol cannot thank You, Death cannot praise You; Those who go down to the pit cannot hope for Your faithfulness.” Isaiah 38:18 —  To modern Christian ears this argument (and other Jewish poetry) sounds like Israel had no concept of an afterlife, but this isn’t so. What Hezekiah’s writing (and others’) is saying is that corpses cannot sing the LORD’s praises in the Temple or proclaim the salvation and help of God to the living. There was a definite afterlife concept among the Jews; Sheol, resurrection, and disembodied spirits, just to name a few, show up throughout the Old Testament. The afterlife is not an evolved New Testament concept.

Secondly, I’ve noticed (haven’t you?) that petitioners to God for special favors (like an extension to Hezekiah’s life) often offer to proclaim to the whole world what good that God has done for them. Do we tell others, when God answers our prayers? This isn’t about trying to bribe God to get positive outcomes, it’s about giving due credit to the Lord and helping others to believe in the One who has answered so many prayers throughout life. To my embarrassment, I think I mostly just thank God in prayer for what He’s done for me — and leave it at that. I’ve got to do better, maybe you do, too.

But then there’s chapter 40

Where do I begin?! There’s so much that I’ll have to only briefly comment — but what a great chapter!

“…Jerusalem…has received of the LORD’s hand double for all her sins.” (40:2) — The idea of receiving double for all their sin is rooted in the Mosaic Law which required double damages to those who stole. It is simply, then, another way of saying that their debt to the LORD was going to be considered paid in full (after the exile and in a double-prophetic way, after Christ’s death on the cross).

“…make smooth in the desert a highway for our God” (40:3) — This passage and its context is another John the Baptist reference, because the idea of the forerunner was to prepare the way for the Lord’s entrance. Matthew 3:3 references this passage. If you’ve ever wondered why John the Baptists was such a big deal in the Gospels, the reason is that he was a major sign given in many of the prophets for the imminent coming of the Messiah, as this passage shows.

“The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever.” (40:8) — Even though this passage’s context is specifically talking about the certainty of the prophecies and their fulfillment (e.g., “The mouth of the LORD has spoken it!”), it is a wonderful reminder to us all of the permanence and eternality of the Bible. It never gets outdated. Civilizations rise and fall, fashions come and go, empires become great and then decay, ideas develop and then fade away; but God’s word remains constant, His commands remain binding, His way salvation stands as the only way.

“Get yourself up on a high mountain, O Zion, bearer of good news, Lift up your voice mightily, O Jerusalem, bearer of good news; Lift it up, do not fear. Say to the cities of Judah, “Here is your God!”” (40:9) — This leads into a fabulous section describing the majesty and transcendence of the LORD. “To whom then will you liken God?” the context asks later (v. 18). Bring this passage out with you on a star-lit night and get reminded of the awesome nature of God.

“He it is who reduces rulers to nothing, Who makes the judges of the earth meaningless.” (40:23) — As great as a king, president, or nation might be (including our own) they rule or are deposed, they rise and they collapse, at God’s command. America, and every other nation under heaven, will be great only as long as it remains good. God’s plans for nations probably revolve less around economics, policy interests, political parties, and even liberty than we might be inclined to think; God has shown in the Bible — and I think even in recent history — that His overarching interest in the eternal Kingdom is primary. Is He concerned about justice? Yes. Is He concerned about oppression? Yes. But the eternal Kingdom — where righteousness, justice, and love will be present in perfection — is primary in God’s decisions.

“Why do you say, O Jacob, and assert, O Israel, “My way is hidden from the LORD, And the justice due me escapes the notice of my God”?” (40:27) — Have you ever felt like you were too small for God to care about? Possibly all of us have felt this, especially when our prayers didn’t seem to be getting answered. But the thrust of the context is to encourage Israel (and us today) 1)  that we are never, ever, too small for God to notice or answer, and 2) to wait on the LORD (see below).

“Yet those who wait for the LORD Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary.” (40:31) — And it is those who wait on the LORD who will have something to celebrate. Yes, waiting is hard. Waiting is feels like “no”. Waiting feels like the prayer was never received, or if it was, it was ignored. But waiting isn’t “no”, nor does it mean that God hasn’t heard, nor does it mean that we’re too insignificant for God to answer. It may merely mean that God is putting all the pieces into place to answer our prayers in ways that will blow our socks off! “Look among the nations! Observe! Be astonished! Wonder! Because I am doing something in your days– You would not believe if you were told.” Habakkuk 1:5, NAS95.

See you tomorrow, Lord willing.

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Highway of Holiness — Isaiah 34-37

Posted on September 16, 2011 by parklinscomb

It’s a great day to be in New England! God’s handiwork in nature — from the temps to the clear blue sky, to the beautifully turning foliage — are what make us say, “The best things in life are free.” Enjoy God’s gifts — and don’t forget to say thank you.

But on to another great blessing, His word — continuing in Isaiah…

A universal judgment — 34:1-5

Judgment is a rather unpopular subject. Judgment not only implies that one has not just been wrong, but criminal. Judgment is also about unpleasant consequences for our deeds. Both of these topics have been unpopular since the first day of sin in the world (Genesis 3), but unpleasantness doesn’t make something untrue or unimportant. These verses originally applied to the nations surrounding Israel in that day, but like many prophecies in Isaiah they have a secondary fulfillment in the The Judgment, the Last Day, at the end of time.

From where we stand, in this modern day, this prophecy (and others like it) is something to pay attention to. Knowing historically that this prophecy was fulfilled, we must take warning. There are plenty of voices in the world trying to convince us all that there is no “Great Day coming”, no accountability for the deeds done here, or if there is, it will be a big party. But the many times when God has told men in advance that He would judge and then followed through (e.g., Noah’s flood, Sodom and Gommorrah, this prophecy here, and the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70), ought to make us all sit up and take notice. These were not idle threats at that time, and God’s promise to judge the world at the end of time is not an idle threat today. There is a “Great Day coming”, we will all be accountable for the deeds done in the flesh, and it will not be a party in any sense of the word.

Edom as an example — 34:6-17

God takes, as one example in this context, the nation of Edom. After His judgment upon them, the nation will become a perpetual wilderness, compared to its former glory. And even today it is a land of nomads, desert, and wilderness. We must take note. God doesn’t tell us these things just to take up a few more pages in His book. He wants us to understand that He means what He says. Does this cause us to fear? It should; but it shouldn’t cause us to stop loving Him, because He has given us the chance to escape judgment through His Son Jesus, who paid the punishment for us.

A radically different destiny for God’s people — 35:1-10

What a contrast the wilderness of Edom is with the reward of the remnant! And once again, the prophecy here about the return of Israel to its Promised Land and its historical fulfillment should give us hope, because it also is a double prophecy. The remnant of Israel would live in a land of abundance, of health and healing, of water and strength, but it wasn’t meant just for the Jews. Jesus Himself, as He spoke of His Kingdom, quoted from parts of this chapter:

“Then the eyes of the blind will be opened And the ears of the deaf will be unstopped. Then the lame will leap like a deer, And the tongue of the mute will shout for joy. For waters will break forth in the wilderness And streams in the Arabah.” Isaiah 35:5, 6, NAS95.

“the BLIND RECEIVE SIGHT and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the POOR HAVE THE GOSPEL PREACHED TO THEM.” Matthew 11:5, NAS95.

…which makes it apply to the church and (in a third fulfillment) to Heaven.

But my favorite part of this chapter is the “Highway of Holiness” passage (vv. 8-10). This “Highway of Holiness” (in its second fulfillment) is the road that Christians walk. And the emphasis that I’d like to give it is to its holiness. It’s tempting to some to think that simply putting one’s feet on the highway (initial salvation, becoming a Christian) is enough, yet it is not. “The unclean will not travel on it, but it will be for him who walks that way, and fools will not wander on it” (v. 8). Not all roads lead to Heaven, only this one does. Take it, stay on it, let it lead you to the everlasting Promised Land.

God has the last word — Isaiah 36-37

We’ve read this story twice before (2 Kings 18 and 2 Chronicles 32), so I’ll not repeat too much except to say that false religion really doesn’t understand God. It thinks it does; it speaks authoritatively, as if it does; and it makes great claims on the basis of its misunderstandings. The last word doesn’t belong to men on religion, however; it belongs to God alone. God had the last word regarding the Assyrian claims, and God will have the last word in the religious world today. You can read it right in your Bible.

See you tomorrow, Lord willing.

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Who ya gonna call? — Isaiah 31-33

Posted on September 15, 2011 by parklinscomb

No, it’s not that I just recently watched “Ghost Busters”, it the saying just seemed to go along with the context and sense of Isaiah 31. This and other things that we read about in today’s Bible reading have very familiar trains of thought — emphasizing again how it is that there is “nothing new under the sun” (Eccl. 1:9).

Who Ya Gonna Call?

“Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help And rely on horses, And trust in chariots because they are many And in horsemen because they are very strong, But they do not look to the Holy One of Israel, nor seek the LORD!…Now the Egyptians are men and not God, And their horses are flesh and not spirit; So the LORD will stretch out His hand, And he who helps will stumble And he who is helped will fall, And all of them will come to an end together.” Isaiah 31:1-3 — This is the crux of a constant dilemma for mankind, “Who will I trust?” What will save me from my pain, from disaster, from harm, from death, from poverty, or something else? Will it be money, who I know, fame, politics & diplomacy, my wits, my friends, my job, my good looks, my athleticism, my I.Q., my guns, my strength, my computer, my inside knowledge, my drink/drugs, or my skills? Or the LORD? Our preferred “gods” only put bandaids of help on our gaping wounds and offer temporary relief at best — while we bleed out to our death. Like the Israel’s reliance on Egypt rather than the LORD, they are too temporary and impotent to really help us.

They needed a regime change

“Behold, a king will reign righteously And princes will rule justly. Each will be like a refuge from the wind And a shelter from the storm, Like streams of water in a dry country, Like the shade of a huge rock in a parched land.” Isaiah 32:1, 2 — This year has included what has been called “The Arab Spring” — a political upheaval of historical proportions, which has upset a number of monarchies and dictatorships in the Arab world. The outcomes are still unfolding, but most folks are in agreement that regime changes in most of these places were necessary. This passage talks about a regime change that needed to happen in Israel — and needs to happen in the hearts of every man. No, the text wasn’t talking about worldly politics — although the kings of Israel and Judah were pretty uniformly spiritually weak. The text is talking about the Messiah of God reigning in the hearts of a greater Israel — letting Jesus rule in the heart of every man rather the corrupt dictators who might be variously called sensuality, greed, materialism, pride, laziness, lust, selfishness, darkness, etc. Everyone needs a regime change to Jesus. He rules righteously and justly.

The Great Kingdom of God

“For the LORD is our judge, The LORD is our lawgiver, The LORD is our king; He will save us–” Isaiah 33:22 — And this regime change (of the heart) I spoke of earlier includes — if I may use the political world as a metaphor — the judicial, legislative, and executive branches. I won’t do to choose Jesus for one but not the others. I’ve heard people say, “Jesus is Lord of my life,” but then make up their own “laws”. Or take judgment right out of the Lord’s hands: “Oh, I don’t think the Lord will condemn men for something like that!” You get the idea, don’t you? Jesus must be judge, lawgiver, and king — all of them — or He is nothing. Now that’s a regime change!

See you tomorrow, Lord willing.

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