Repentance is More Than Skin Deep

“For thus saith the LORD to the men of Judah and Jerusalem, Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns.” (Jer 4:3 AV)

How deep is our repentance?  Is it only skin deep?  Does it go all the way down to that part of the heart and soul which results in the destruction of hurtful actions, thoughts, or disposition?  Is our repentance temporary?  Or, is it final?  Once we have forsaken our sin, do we quickly allow it right back into our hearts?  This is the command given to Judah.  They had a variety of kings whose character varied from doing right to doing evil.  Unlike Israel whose kings only did evil in the sight of the LORD, Judah had some good kings among the bad.  There were times when they did right before the eyes of the LORD excluding the high places.  Perhaps this is to what the LORD is referring.  Partial repentance is no repentance at all.  The thorns still remain.

Few remember the dust bowl of the 1930’s.  It was the practice of farming to disc the land which would break up the soil, turn in over, and prepare it for planting.  During the 1930’s, there was a drought in Texas and Oklahoma that resulted in a great dust storm, eroding away the top soil of many farms.  Since then, it has become an increasing practice to shock the fields with chemicals to kill weeds and then plant by scraping rather than plowing.  Gone are the days a pedestrian would walk the fields of a tilled farm trying to keep one’s balance among rows after rows of ruts.  This old-fashioned way of plowing severed the roots of the weeds before the weed had a chance to pollinate, turning it over into the soil and turning it into a fertilizer.  Then crop was planted and grew faster than the weeds could recover.  There were still weeds that grew, but they were very few compared to what was there before the tilling.  When this soil was turned over, it killed all the threatening influence to a healthy crop.

The LORD is trying to show us what true repentance looks like.  We cannot sow righteousness when unrighteous still exists.  It has to be rooted out and destroyed.  Repentance kills of sin at its root.  It makes our sin become the waste that it is.  True repentance takes a cutting away.  A severing.  This can be painful.  But it is necessary.  If we are trying to do right while living wrong, it will not work.  If we sow among thorns, the thorns will win out.  The thorns of sin must be overturned.  Otherwise, it will undermine the fruit which God wishes to grow to our account.

That For Which God Looks

 “For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.” (Isa 66:2 AV)

The LORD is comparing all that Israel has done from building buildings to sacrifice, and He has concluded he would rather have people who are humble, apologetic, and respect His word.  This has always been the case.  From the garden of Eden, all God wants is a being that will love Him, trust Him, and obey Him.  There were no buildings or temples in Eden.  There was no sacrificial system of worship in Eden.  There was no written law.  Only one rule.  Don't eat of the fruit of the tree of good and evil.  Adam and Eve had to trust the LORD as they had never seen death.  They had to love the LORD in that Eve had to love Him more than the fruit and Adam love God more than Eve.  This is all God requires.  This is all God looks for.  But it is that last phrase upon which we wish to meditate. To tremble at the words of the LORD is a lost practice today.  Not too many of God's people approach the word of God with such respect that it affects their very constitution.  We are more apt to critique the word of God than we are to tremble at it.

The word '…trembleth…' here means a reverential fear.  It means a respect that one carries for something that it changes the very constitution of his being.  The closest I can come to is to describe some of the things we of which false religions hold in regard.  As an altar boy, there were certain things that were off limits and we never crossed.  One such thing was the confessional booth.  Although we could peer into the center where the priest would sit, we would never ever enter.  Upon fear of immediate death and curse of hellfire, we would never venture into that which was sacred.  Another was the altar.  We would never stand behind it.  To the side, in front of, or way in the back.  But never would we stand where the priest normally stands when serving mass.  Although as Bible believers, we understand these things are not truly sacred, we understand what they mean to those who assume they are.

When it comes to the Bible, we tend to treat it with less respect than those who mistakenly treat their sacred things  as sacred.  We criticize the word of God at will.  We translate it like it is a newspaper article of no real supernatural origin.  We approach the word of God like a text book.  A source of information rather than the very voice of God.  But were we fail the most is when we read the word of God in our devotions, looking for some emotional experience to the detriment of acknowledging His word as His very voice.  When we read the word of God, we need to approach it in the same manner Moses did upon the mount.  When he heard the voice of God come from the burning bush, he fell upon his knees and would not so much as to raise his eyes upward.  If we were to approach the word of God with all the respect it deserves, it would radically change who and what we are.  The fault lies with our attitude towards God's voice - His Holy Word.

Keep Not Silence

“I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the LORD, keep not silence,” (Isa 62:6 AV)

This passage is a prophetical one looking at the time when Israel will be restored to their kingdom under the rule of their Messiah and our Savior, the LORD Jesus Christ.  The people of Israel are set as watchmen upon the walls of New Jerusalem and given the task of preaching there day and night.  All who come to Christ must pass by the preachers.  Note here the watchmen are not watching for danger that might threaten the city.  They are making mention of the LORD.  They are not watchmen preparing armies for a coming battle.  They are watchmen declaring the glory of God.  They are not watchmen whose declarations are directed inward towards the occupants of the city.  Rather, they are watchmen whose testimony is directed outward towards all men everywhere that Christ is LORD and Savior of all.  That which the LORD has for us this morning is a simple three word phrase - KEEP NOT SILENCE.  What makes this even more potent is the LORD does not need these watchmen while he reigns on this earth.  His glory will be evident and visible.  They keep not silence because God deserves their testimonies.  Nor for results, but for the pure glory of God.

The LORD has really been working on my heart regarding the unction to be more proactive and vocal when sharing the LORD with others.  I am not an extrovert by any stretch of the imagination.  I am an introvert by nature.  This is a hindrance in certain types of evangelism.  In others, it is a strength.  Cold calling or first contact situations are difficult.  However, being and introvert also makes one a patient and good listener.  I may not be gifted in spontaneous soul-winning, but those who need long term commitment are my bread and butter.  Having laid the basis for our meditation this morning, we are instructed to keep not silence.  No matter how our personality helps or hinders, we are told not to keep silence.  This is not for the purpose of results.  Again, the passage above is not for results.  It is for the glory of God.  A few weeks ago, we had some protesters who protested our church.  They were right to life protesters protesting the lack of involvement of local churches in protesting abortion clinics.  The belittled all other ministries that happen to fight the right-to-life position in other ways and condemned all believers who refused to protest abortion clinics.  Anyway, a car of rowdy adults drove by with their window down.  They cursed the right-to-life people with verbal and visible profanity.  The world will definitely not keep silence.  Nor should the people of God.

We have the answer that few are looking for.  We have the truth that will set men free.  However, even if the vast majority reject; which they will; we still must not remain silent.  God's glory is still the highest motivation for speaking up.  Sure, sharing the gospel will help a few.  But more than that, sharing the love of Christ to all around us will bring glory to a God who desires to be known as a God who loves all and has given His Son for all.  We cannot keep silence.  We must speak up.  We must share for the purest of reasons that it pleases the One who gave His life that we might have eternal life.  We must speak up because God deserves it!

Peace to Those Who Have No Peace

“I create the fruit of the lips; Peace, peace to him that is far off, and to him that is near, saith the LORD; and I will heal him. But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.” (Isa 57:19-21 AV)

I life changing experience happened to me this morning.  A fella I know who is an outstanding soul-winner encouraged me in the arena of reaching those who are in desperate need of the truth stated above.  God desires to bring peace to those who are in turmoil over their sin.  Which is most people.  Far more than we consider it to be.  We assume that most who flaunt their sin are at peace with it.  Few truly are.  In particular, as believers we can fall victim to the turtle syndrome.  The syndrome that causes us to avoid those who would abuse us and our beliefs, thinking they are beyond redemption.  There is misinformation that has allowed us to believe certain facts that are not true.  Let me give you an example.

According to a study done by UCLA, approximately 3.8% of the US population identifies with the LGBTQ community or has identified themselves as gay.  As we know, June is gay pride month.  My initial response is to strap on the turtle shell and retreat into the safety of my church building because I assumed that as the media portrayed the LGBTQ population as exhibited in these gay pride events must be how all gay people are.  If so, can they really be reached with the love and acceptance they seek that can only come from forgiveness in unconditional love in Christ?  Let me give you some numbers and then something that was shared with me by way of encouragement.  According to a recent news article, roughly 45,000 attended the gay pride event held in my home city.  That may seem like a large number, but when one crunches the numbers, the reality of it is actually revealing.  In my little area of the woods, the population of my county and all contiguous counties is roughly 2.25 million.  If 3.8% of the nation’s population is gay, that means there is a gay population of 95,000 in our small percentage of the US population.  If the 45,000 who attended were all gay, and that number represented a one-time attendance to the event, that means only half of the gay population attended.  More likely, the 45,000 attendance was not all gay and many attended on multiple days.  In other words, attendance to this event was rather small compared to the overall population of professed gay citizens of our community.  Which begs a question.  If those who profess this lifestyle were completely comfortable in it, then why not attend.  Which brings me to a life changing statement which a soul-winner shared.

It is his experience when working events and speaking with those in the gay community, there are those who want to come out but never thought it possible.  This is not any different from any other lifestyle choice.  There are those who are caught up in the drug or alcohol community who are told they are born with a personality or predisposition towards chemical abuse.  This is the flaw of the AA movement.  They are told “once and alcoholic, always and alcoholic.”  The point is this, we cannot take for granted the idea there are those who are unreachable.  It doesn’t matter if it is the LGBTQ community, the drug abuse community, or the religious community.  There are those who are looking for an answer and are not as content as the world wants us to believe.  God says “Peace” to those who are looking for it.  We have the answer and we are obligated to share it with those who desire it.

God's Unchangeable Promises

“For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the LORD that hath mercy on thee.” (Isa 54:10 AV)

It is easier for creation to pass away than it is for the LORD to renege on His covenants.  Some have asserted there are over 3,000 promises in the entire Bible.  Another source claims there are 750 promises in the New Testament but that accounts for 250 separate promises as some are repeated.  The word ‘promise(s)’ occurs 111 times and the word ‘covenant(s)’ 280 times.  God is a God of His word.  When He says he will do something, He will do it. As the LORD has stated the truth earlier in this same book of Isaiah, “…yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it.” (Isa 46:11 AV)

There are times when these promises come into doubt.  Not that the LORD would ever cancel them. But our fears, doubts, or even habitual sin brings us to the place where we begin to doubt God would require Himself to honor His word.  One of the scariest times of my childhood was a time when my parents has a serious row.  I remember where I was when the news from my mom came.  She asked us all to pray for my father because he has left the house in a fit of frustration and rage.  We didn’t blame him.  Raising eleven children, working three jobs, and still struggling to put food on the table would drive any man to his limits.  I saw the fear on my mother’s face that divorce might be a possibility.  We all took it personally.  We looked at our own behavior as the cause for my father’s frustration.  If I had only been more obedient.  If I had only been more grateful.  I remember looking out the window of the playroom where our temporary room was set up as we remodeled my bedroom and thought my dad was never coming back.  He did.  It didn’t last but a few days.  My dear father needed some ‘me’ time.  Mom and Dad were married only once and with the passing of my mother a year ago, they had been married for sixty-one years.

This is a bit like God’s promises to us.  There may be a hiccup here and there.  But the vow remains strong.  There may be a time when we are separated because if our sin, but the vow He has made has never been cancelled.  There may be times our fears and doubts get the better of us, but the word of the LORD stands forever.  There may be times when the adversary taunts us as he did in the Song of Solomon, speaking lies of abandonment.  But our God is always there.  He will not suffer us to be lost.  He will not abandon our care.  He has promised and He will do it!

Go Away, Accuser!

“He is near that justifieth me; who will contend with me? let us stand together: who is mine adversary? let him come near to me. Behold, the Lord GOD will help me; who is he that shall condemn me? lo, they all shall wax old as a garment; the moth shall eat them up.” (Isa 50:8-9 AV)

There is no better feeling when condemned for that which we have done, to have someone standing by our side that can find mercy from the one judging.  Israel is guilty here.  They have gone into captivity for falling backward into the sins of their neighbors.  They failed to fulfill their part of the covenant with God.  This, the LORD was forced to chasten them with seventy years captivity.  Once this captivity was over, there were still those who wished to condemn Israel.  There still are today.  But God stands with them.  He will defend them!  Like Israel we have an advocate.  Jesus Christ the LORD is our advocate.  We stand condemned, guilty of all the sins of our lives.  Yet, He has paid the penalty for our iniquity and the wrath of God has been satisfied.

Recently, I had the privilege of serving on a jury.  There were several things that struck me.  The ability of a jury to cut through all the drama and discern guilt or innocence is uncanny.  The long hours of waiting were a great time to learn about others.  One thing that struck me was the ineptness of the public defender.  In particular, the strategy of defense actually opened the door for confession.  His defense was the plaintiff manipulated the system which enticed the defendant into the criminal activity articulated in the complaint.  I sat there during the opening arguments think, “Trial over.”  The prosecution was going to have a field day with this.  The defendant needed a good lawyer that day and he did not.  He was guilty of that which was alleged.  What he needed was someone who knew the law that would advocate on his behalf rather than throw him under the bus.

Like Israel, our defense is not that we have been falsely accused.  We cannot claim innocence.  Like Joshua the high priest of the book of Zechariah, we have filthy garments.  We are horribly wicked.  There are no excuses.  We willingly and knowingly choose to violate the perfect law of God.  We were enemies of the most High.  Yet, His Son satisfied what the law required and that which we could not pay.  Our plea is not “not guilty.”  Our plea is “guilt yet absolved.”  If we have been absolved, then there is no more condemnation as Romans chapter eight so eloquently puts it.  There are no charges that can be brought.  We stand sinless.  Not because we have made ourselves that way.  Quite the opposite.  We stand perfect in the eyes of God’s law because the righteousness of Christ has been imputed to our account.  We stand justified because of what Jesus did.  So, go away devil!  Go away world!  We are guilty.  But we are justified.

Turn Up The Heat

“Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.” (Isa 48:10 AV)

Affliction is the standard for growth, correction, and perfection.  These things do not come by idleness.  They do not increase by comfort.  Holiness, character, faith, integrity, etc. all have to be tested and proved.  These desirable traits do not come by sitting in our favorite recliner and all of a sudden, we are overwhelmed by a great light from glory, rising to be the child of God which He intended all along.  If we are to be what the LORD intended for us to be, on this side glory anyway, it will take days, months, and years of affliction.  If we are smart, we will learn to appreciate them.  Recently, I was reminded of this very thing.

My father knowingly put his children in situations that were difficult to say the least.  Growing up in one of the snowiest areas of the country, western New York, winter time was hard.  Particularly those of us who had paper-routes.  It was no easy task to load up those Sunday papers on a sled and traipse off at five in the morning to deliver those papers on time.  There were times it became a community effort.  If one completed their route, they would pitch in and help a younger sibling complete their route.  There were also times that we got behind on our collecting.  That was when we would go to our client’s home and collect the money that was owed for the previous week’s delivery.  Usually on a Friday night and Saturday afternoon.  Then we would pay the publisher their cut.  If we got behind a few weeks, we didn’t want to collect because the client might be upset that we allowed it to go so long.  My father would check our books to see if we are all caught up with our client’s accounts.  Rather than face an angry client, we often used our tips to cover their bill.  It was not a fun experience.  But that paper route had multitudes of life’s lessons for us all.  Lessons we would not have learned any other way.  It was not a joy to work that hard so early in life.  But the experience helped us mature quicker and above our peers.  In the long run, it saved is from a lot of other experiences that kids with idle time fell into.

We may not enjoy life’s afflictions.  But these afflictions are the only way God can change who and what we are.  We may not like a poor diagnosis.  We may wish we could work a different job.  We may not enjoy another car repair bill.  We would rather not have to climb up on the roof to patch yet another leak.  We wish there was an easier route to work so the commute wasn’t so stressful.  We wish the kids would have one good day wherein they do all they are told without any lip whatsoever.  Life is far from perfect.  It is those times that shape us into the person we are and the person God is working towards.  It can come no other way.

Just Forget It

“Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.” (Isa 43:18-19 AV)

Encouraging words to a nation that will be coming out of captivity into restoration of their home land.  Of course, this event has not happened as at the time of this writing.  These words were penned before Judah went into Babylon.  These words are prophetic.  But encouraging nonetheless.  There is one phrase which we want to consider this morning.  The first sentence is key to living in future victory.  Failure is inevitable.  We will fail God time and time again.  The ability to get beyond it requires we put those failures in the past.  No matter how egregious, we need to forget they ever happened.  To dredge them up time and again only serves to paralyze us into future usefulness for God.

Years ago, I did a very silly thing.  I was trying to impress a female classmate in Junior High and broke my wrist as a result.  My father took us with him to the high school where he taught during the summer recess.  We would help him with projects around the school.  Some were construction or repair projects.  Others were scheduling for the coming school year.  When we needed a break, we would run around that high school and sliding down the banisters was a great activity.  Very dangerous and forbidden.  But we did it anyway.  It was this skill that I wished to show off to a girl that I was sweet on.  I found out the hard way why it was a dangerous thing to do.  Over the side I went and my wrist sustained a small fracture.  The doctor put a half cast on but it didn’t heal quite right.  So, he had to re-break the wrist and put a full cast on it.  Six weeks later, off came the cast.  I was as good as brand new.   If an x-ray was done on my wrist, the doctors could see that it had been broken sometime in the past.  My memories of the event are still vivid.  I remember the itching.  I remember the inconvenience of having a cast.  I remember using the cast in self-defense.  I remember the inconvenience of taking a shower with the cast stuck out the other side of the shower curtain.  I remember the pain in the neck which was the sling.

A couple of years later, I signed up for little league baseball.  My brother and I would ride our bikes to practice and games.  I played outfield and third string pitcher.  It never occurred to me that playing such a game could re-injure my wrist.  I would never make the same mistake again.  Never would I slide down a banister.  In this, it was good that I remembered the past.  But, had I allowed a past mistake dictate all other choices, I would have never learned how to pitch resulting in coaching my youngest into collage baseball.  Had I always been aware of the past injury suffered by taking a risk, then all future choices would have only been the safe ones.  The point is this.  We all fail the LORD.  We all make mistakes.  We all sin.  Some of that sin us horrible.  But we cannot live in the past.  The LORD has forgiven us for these choices and wishes to reconcile.  Not only for the purpose of fellowship.  Equally important, for the purpose of usefulness.  We need to live in the present and for the future.  The past is gone and it needs to remain there.  If the LORD has put it in the past, that is exactly where we need to leave it.

A Blessing in Disguise

“Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain: And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.“ (Isa 40:4,5 AV)

I am preaching through Revelation in our Sunday morning services.  We will cover the last vial judgment in Revelation chapter sixteen.  This last of all judgments entails three elements.  The first being rather large hail.  About half the size of a single floor house.  The second is the destruction of all cities.  In particular, Babylon.  The third is a world-wide earthquake that levels all mountains and raises all valleys.  One cannot help but see the parallel in our passage above.  A thought entered my mind.  By the Spirit, my mind considered that if these two are one in the same event, then Revelation gives the motive as judgment for rebellion whereas Isaiah gives the reason as a way to make access to the LORD while reigning in New Jerusalem much easier.  No mountain passes to go around.  No deep valleys that require a bridge.  This would also solve rain runoff.  The Earth would bloom according to verse six of the same chapter as described there.  The point is, a judgment may also contain with it a hidden blessing which we never would have considered otherwise.

The simplest and easiest application would be that God’s judgments eventually make it easier for the faithful to worship the LORD.  In our passage, there would be no need for a highway system.  With completely level ground, all people from all directions would have equally easy access to the temple of the LORD.  This catastrophic event has an upside.  What may have seemed a problem turned out to be a cure.  What may have been traumatic has turned out to be a blessing that has made life a whole lot easier.  What may have seemed like a life altering event indeed has been.  But for the better.

God gave Paul a throne in the flesh.  Paul asked that it be removed three separate times.  Each time, the LORD said no.

  

God told Paul not to go to Jerusalem.  He did anyway.  Paul spent time in prison and several occasions because of this disobedience.  Paul lost his wife and the majority of his missionary work was without the aid of a wife.  The LORD asked Paul to go through things that most of us will never face.  It was because of those things that God was able to use Paul in a way He could use no other.  It is because of those things we have the majority of the New Testament.  His trouble really was a blessing in disguise.

Strength for Today and Bright Hope for Tomorrow

“Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees. Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you.” (Isa 35:3-4 AV)

This instruction was just prior to Assyria coming to Judah and threatening their liberty.  Assyria, which is modern day Iran, had taken Israel’s neighbors as well as the ten northern tribes of Israel.  Now, they have defeated all the defenced cites of Judah and lay at the gates of Jerusalem.  They are demanding surrender and using their successes, specially over the northern kingdom, as incitement to fear.  Above, the prophet is encouraging the faithful of Judah to strengthen one another by the promises of the word of God.

There are times when our faith is weak.  There are other times when our faith is strong.  It is in these times that we need to encourage or be encouraged.  What is important to observe is the nature of the statements above.  There is no ‘hope for’.  There is no ‘maybe’.  There is no ‘perhaps if the LORD is gracious’.  There is no ‘if it all works out’.  And there is no ‘the LORD will’.  The statement above is an emphatic one.  Verse four is a declaration of what will be!  Of that there is no doubt.  Our challenge is knowing exactly how the LORD will work out details.  But the end is known from the beginning.  No matter what life brings to us, we know certain things to be true.  We know that God will transform us from a wretched sinner more and more to the likeness of His Son.  We know He will grow us in faith.  And we definitely know once this life is over, we will be in eternity with all our troubles and trials never to be remembered.  We know certain things to be certain.  With these absolutes, we can encourage one another.

As I get older, I have learned to take the details of life in stride.  A bit ago, my wife was given a preliminary diagnosis of a deadly condition.  The emotions and thoughts that coursed through my being were both really good, but also quite troublesome.  We began to prepare for what might have been the beginning of her journey to the glory of Christ’s kingdom.  I had to meditate on the possibility of being alone.  Each thought or fear was met with the comfort of the Holy Spirit.  He answered each fear that entered my heart.  Her final diagnosis is nothing to be concerned about and merely has to be watched year by year.  That experience, of which I am truly grateful, caused me to ponder greater promises than the ones concerning this life.  That experience taught me that God is greater than anything that He would ever ask me to go through and even when life brings the most challenging of all circumstances, God is still there and He will guide me through it.  Guaranteed.

Waiting for the Spanking to be Over

“And therefore will the LORD wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the LORD is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him.” (Isa 30:18 AV)

The idea here is that God will wait until their captivity is over.  Then He will be gracious to them.  In doing so, He will be exalted and as a result, will have mercy upon the nation.  God’s judgment here, which includes chastisement AND restoration, is seen as good.  Finally, the nation is encouraged to wait for the LORD to show mercy and grace once their years of captivity are over.

One of the most difficult things regarding chastening our children is the emotional and physical separation we suffer because of it.  No child wishes to be immediately reconciled to their father right after a spanking.  There are a lot of emotions associated with this punishment.  A lot of meditation comes as a result.  There is the coming to the truth that one deserved the spanking and that father was not being unrealistic.  There is anger or unresolved guilt at being caught.  There is a myriad of emotions that a chastened child must work through before full reconciliation can take hold.

However, on the part of the father, he is plotting some activity that will reassure his child that all is forgiven and has been forgotten.  One favorite activity of mine was going for an ice cream cone.  Other times, we would simply sit outside as I watched them play.  Still others, a trip to the park, the store, or some other activity.  Sometimes, it was simply sitting, reading a book or watching a program.  The separation kills the father more than it does his child.  The child is working through his spirit.  But dad has little to work through.  His heart breaks when his son or daughter is separated.  He is waiting to reunite, share a hug, and get things back to where they used to be.

This is what the LORD experiences every time He is forced to chasten us.  It bothers Him that we have been disobedient and He has to do something about it.  As the verse above testifies, the LORD is waiting for the time of reconciliation wherein grace abounds.  He is waiting to exercise mercy.  He looks forward to our brokenness that results in full spiritual and emotional restoration.  He is waiting!  Waiting for that time to be over that the goodness and grace of God may abound.

Looking For Meat Eaters

“Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:” (Isa 28:9-10 AV)

The question above is in the context of the failure of the princes and priests of Israel and Judah.  They were under the influence of wine and unable to receive instruction.  They were ruled by their flesh rather than by the Spirit of God.  This is equated as still being on the milk of the word of God.  The flesh had not been disciplined as was in need of the basics of the law before the LORD could show them the meat of the word of God.  This question above is a good one.  It is a proper one.  It is an appropriate one.

If you have ever reared children, you know it is a battle to get them to eat well.  Specially in this day and age when everything has added sugar and salt.  One of my sons despises vegetables.  He would rather eat meat than anything else.  Give him a fresh kill and open pit, and that boy would be in heaven.  Put some greens in front of him and he would rather starve.  The problem with that type of diet is the lack of necessary vitamins.  There are certain nutrients that can only come from things of which we would rather not partake.  I do not like canned green vegetables.  You can keep you canned peas and specially those disgusting waxed beans.  But my dear mother loved heating up those dreaded waxed beans.  I need them fresh or sautéed before I will eat them.  Brussel sprouts as well.  cauliflower was made for rabbits!  Unless doused with salt or cheese.  These things are necessary for a healthy diet.  We may not prefer them, but they are needed.  I don’t really care for oranges or orange juice.  From where else will I get my vitamin C.  The point is, my mother would not allow us the sustenance of meat without also taking in the vegetables.  The discipline to partake of the less enjoyable opened the pleasure of that which we really wanted.  Eating the vegetables allowed for protein which is needed to build muscle mass.

The point of this passage is God found it hard to teach men knowledge and wisdom from the word of God because those who were entrusted with this task could not control the flesh.  They were still on the milk of the word.  They were still trying to master the does and don’t.  They were still trying to overcome the weakness of our human desires.  There was no one disciplined and mature enough for God to entrust the deeper things of God’s word.  No vision for the people. No leadership to take them to higher goals.  They couldn’t tell themselves ‘no’.  Therefore, God could not find a man to teach him His word.

Constant Inquiry

“The burden of Dumah. He calleth to me out of Seir, Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night? The watchman said, The morning cometh, and also the night: if ye will enquire, enquire ye: return, come.” (Isa 21:11-12 AV)

Dumah is a tribe and region of Ishmael in the Arabian desert.  Some believe it is another name for Idumea. These are not Hebrews.  These are Gentile nomads who were experiencing prosperity at the time of the Babylonian invasion of Palestine.  The idea here is they observe the coming trouble in Israel and rightly assume the same will happen to them.  The prophet encourages all to consult him as to the will of God.  If they will, then come and enquire.  If one is in night time, or a time of trouble, come and consult the prophet of God.  The morning, or better times will come, but then trouble will follow.  The point is very simple.  Regardless of circumstances of life, we should be consulting the man of God who preaches the word of God to learn the will of God.

What motivates Dumah to inquire of the prophet is the night.  The prophet says the morning is coming.  But, if you wish to inquire, then inquire.  This is typical of all of us.  In times of distress, we are more prone to seek the face of God.  We are in the Bible more.  We are at church more faithfully.  We seek advice from those who seem to walk with God or know a lot of Bible.  Yet, when things are not so bad, we forget the God who gave us comfort in time of trouble.  The Prophet says, come no matter what time it is.  Come when things are good.  Come when things are bad.  Just come.

I think that is really sound advice.  For many reasons.  When we come when times are good, we are challenged.  When we come when times are bad, we are comforted.  There is blessing to be had no matter our circumstances.  But one thing I have learned the older I get is that if we come to the LORD and listen to His word as a pattern of life, then life becomes far more even.  Or, far less dramatic.  The troublesome times are not nearly as troublesome as others may see.  The prosperous times are taken with a grain of salt and our faithfulness is not affected.  When we walk with God on a daily basis, no matter the circumstances, we may be pushed to our limit.  But it would be a whole lot harder if we were not walking with God.

Removing Obstacles to the Presence of God

“Yet gleaning grapes shall be left in it, as the shaking of an olive tree, two or three berries in the top of the uppermost bough, four or five in the outmost fruitful branches thereof, saith the LORD God of Israel. At that day shall a man look to his Maker, and his eyes shall have respect to the Holy One of Israel.” (Isa 17:6-7 AV)

There are times when the LORD takes away that which He gave so that we will return to Him.  This is the context of the above passage.  Israel had experienced the blessings of God because they finally trusted Him.  They took to heart the law of God and served Him faithfully during the reign of Saul, David, and Solomon.  Even following the split of the kingdom, there were times Judah followed the LORD with their whole heart.  Yet, over time, they descended into the wickedness of their neighbors.  In doing so, the LORD was moved to chasten them.  This finally ended in their loss of the kingdom and captivity to Babylon.  Yet, God left them a small remnant in the land of Palestine to care for the land.  This small remnant turned their heart back to the LORD and this is to what Isaiah is referring.  Sometimes, the LORD has to remove all those things that were a result of obedience because in that prosperity, our hearts have strayed from God.  This is sometimes painful.  But definitely necessary. 

As I get older, I have realized those things in life I once thought to be important are not as important as I thought they were.  Life is becoming simpler.  When you are young, have the energy, and the desire for greater things, priorities can often conflict.  As one ages, he discovers the simple things of life are far more precious than all those other things he has piled up and surrounded his life with.  A simple stroll in the park with good Christian music playing in the ears is more pleasurable than a day at an amusement park being entertained more than we can stand.  A fresh salad with a clear glass of water is more delightful than a five-course meal.  And, simple Bible study with a season of prayer is greater than a two-week revival filled with business and lack of sleep.  We have lost the simple pleasure of the presence of God because we have too much.  We do not read our Bibles and pray because we are too busy caring for the estate that has come by obedience to God’s command to work.  We spend little to no time in prayer because we are too busy with the kids or grandkids.  We begin the slippery slope of backsliding because we are overwhelmed with the demands of our career.  When in good health, we enjoy the ability to venture into the outdoors, experiencing the hand of God in creation, all the while ignoring the God who created it all.

There are times when the LORD has to take it all away.  When He moves all your children and grandchildren more than a day’s travel away because He wants you to walk with Him.  He may take away that homestead because we need to spend the time in His word rather than the endless hours caring for our castle.  Sometimes, the LORD takes away our good health so that we will sit or lay long enough to hear the still small voice of God which we have forgotten a long time ago.  This may be uncomfortable, but it is necessary.  In the end, it is precious. 

Fast Fidelity Forthcoming

“And in mercy shall the throne be established: and he shall sit upon it in truth in the tabernacle of David, judging, and seeking judgment, and hasting righteousness.” (Isa 16:5 AV)

The ‘he’ here is the lamb that was spoken of in verse one of the same chapter.  The direct application is pretty clear.  This verse is a prophetical one.  It speaks of the time wherein Christ shall return and bring righteousness to the world.  The heathen will be destroyed.  The reign of Christ will begin with souls who are saved.  There may be those too young to have made a choice at the time of the battle of Armageddon, but those entering the reign of Christ will not, as yet, have their names blotted out from the book of life.  In this sense, Christ will hasten righteousness.  It will happen in an instant.  Judgment upon the wickedness of mankind will be swifter than the flood of Noah.  It will be over in a moment.  Righteousness will be the rule of the earth for one thousand years.  There is, however, a more practical application here.   One which we can take heart in this, our day and hour.

As a child of God, we get impatient at the rate of growth which we experience.  We want to be made into the image of Christ yesterday.  As Paul expressed his frustration with his own wickedness in Romans chapter seven, we concur it is equally difficult.  The new man battles against the old man.  The new man, made in the image of Christ, it trying to grow stronger as the old man, made in the image of Adam, is fighting against it.  The Spirit of God gives us the desire to do right while the old man rears up the desires of the flesh to fight against it.  The promise above is not only for the nation of Israel as their Messiah establishes His kingdom.  This promise is for the child of God no matter the dispensation.  This promise will come to pass.  In a different way, sure.  But it will come to pass.

When the trumpet sounds or our soul is required, whichever comes first, like the valley of decision, our nature will be completely and wholly changed.  The old man will be dead and gone.  Only the new man will remain.  All our sin and ability to sin will be destroyed and left here on this planet.  Only the glory which the Father has promised will remain.  Talk about hastening righteousness.  This change will be complete and instantaneous.  No more battles to fight.  No more frustrations.  No more forgiveness.  No more guilt.  The Lamb will hasten righteousness.  In the world at His second coming.  To those who know Him in this dispensation, at the moment of our departing.  I say, Amen!  Let it come!  All we want to do is to have the ability to please our God without any temptation otherwise!  Hasten the righteousness dear Jesus!

Draw Deep

“Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation. Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.” (Isa 12:2-3 AV)

Regardless of the trials we face in life, if we are saved, there is a well from which we can draw that will bring joy to the heart.  That is not to minimize some of the deep water which the LORD asks that we experience.  However, no matter how deep the water is, there is a deeper well from which we can draw.  This water is fresh water.  This water is filtered water.  This water is cool water.  This water is refreshing water.  This water restores the soul.  This well of water will never run dry.  All we have to do is to draw from it.

I am a city boy.  I don’t have a whole lot of experience with well water.  I definitely do not have any experience with drawing water from a well.  In my life, there were three wells that played a major part in my life.  The first was at Scout Camp.  Although the camp was on domestic water, there was a functional well with a pump on it.  Summer camp was hard work.  It was trials by fire.  For a teenager to work a summer of camp meant being pushed to one’s limit.  Specially in the heat of the afternoon, there was one source of water better than all others. That was the well with the red pump.  I remember sticking my head under that pump.  Filling my hat with well water and dumping it on my head.  But particularly, I remember cupping my hands for the water that would spew so that I could splash my face or drink from it.  This well of salvation was the well needed in times of hard labor.

Then there was the well my father put in at our family camp site.  When we camped, we truly camped.  Tent camping all the way.  Absolutely no electricity.  No running water.  No furniture.  It was roughing it.  At first, we had to use pond water for bathing and washing.  We would trek into town to fill gallon jugs with well water from a park.  But then my father had a company dig us a well.  This well provided what we needed in times of our pilgrimage.  Our day to day water that was needed for cooking and drinking.  Fresh, clean water that was always there and would never run out.  Water to get us through the day.  Water that was better than anything the surface could provide.  This well of salvation for our pilgrimage refreshes the soul on a daily basis.

Lastly, there is the well water at my in-laws.  They live in the woods away from most civilization.   Their water comes from wells dug that have in them fresh mountain water filtered by the gravel of the under-earth.  This water is the best tasting water I have ever tasted.  In our younger years, our family would go to the in-laws for times of keeping company and fellowship.  Whenever I went, I must have drunk a gallon of water.  It is simply the best tasting water of all.  This is the well water of salvation in times of fellowship.  The sweetest of all.  Water that is available to all.  Water that is free for the taking.  This water tasted even more wonderful when surrounded by the log cabin filled with laughter, love, and lounging. 

It is important to remind ourselves often of the reality of our salvation.  Whether we are going through times of trial or tribulation, growing in the journey of our pilgrimage, or simply enjoying the fellowship of the saints, it is our salvation which is our source of joy.  Not our circumstances.  If we are going through a hard time, draw from the well of salvation.  There is joy to be had therein.